Biography

He was elected to represent two different Tennessee Districts in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1839 to 1845 (represented the 10th District from 1839 to 1843, then the 6th District from 1843 to 1845). He then served as Governor of Tennessee from 1845 to 1847. In 1857 he was appointed by President James Buchanan as United States Postmaster General, and served from 1857 until his death in office in 1859.