Gabriel Moore (1785 – August 6, 1844) was a Democratic-Republican, later Jacksonian and National Republican politician and fifth governor of the U.S. state of Alabama (1829–1831).[1]

Gabriel Moore
United States Senator
from Alabama
In office
March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1837
Preceded byJohn McKinley
Succeeded byJohn McKinley
5th Governor of Alabama
In office
November 25, 1829 – March 3, 1831
Preceded byJohn Murphy
Succeeded bySamuel B. Moore
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 1st district
In office
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1829
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byClement Comer Clay
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's at-large district
In office
March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823
Preceded byJohn Crowell
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Member of the Alabama Senate
In office
1819–1820
Personal details
Born1785
Stokes County, North Carolina
DiedAugust 6, 1844(1844-08-06) (aged 58–59)
near Caddo Lake, Texas
Resting placeSwanson Cemetery, Stockdale, Texas
Political partyDemocratic-Republican, Jacksonian, National Republican
SpouseMary Parham Caller
Parents
  • Matthew Reed Moore (1738–1801)
  • Letitia Dalton (1742–1838)

Life and politics

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Moore was born in Stokes County, North Carolina, of English descent and some French descent.[2] He moved to Huntsville, Alabama, in 1810. Moore served in the territorial legislatures and was elected to the United States Congress in 1821. He was re-elected to the United States Congress in 1827.[3]

Moore was the second Representative of the state of Alabama and the first Representative of its First Congressional District.

He served one term as representative of the at-large district of Alabama (1821–1823). Moore was one of four candidates in the running. Moore won with 67.57% of the vote. He served as Alabama's 1st district representative (1823–1829). In the 1823 election, he was the only candidate and won all 3,304 votes. In the 1825 election, he was one of two candidates, the other being Clement Comer Clay. Moore won with 71.12% of the vote.

He was elected Governor of Alabama unopposed in 1829, standing as a Jacksonian.[4] In 1831, two years into his four-year governorship, Moore resigned to seek a Class 3 spot in the Senate. In response to his resignation, Moore was replaced as Governor by Alabama Senate President Samuel B. Moore (no relation).

Moore's Senate bid was successful, and he served for six years as Class 3 Senator alongside William R. King before losing out to John McKinley in 1837, who had preceded Moore in 1831. During his tenure in the Senate, Moore also served as chairman of the House Committee on Revolutionary Claims.[citation needed] In 1834, he was one of only two Anti-Jacksonian senators to vote against the censure of President Andrew Jackson.[5]

Following his loss to McKinley, Moore moved near Caddo Lake, Texas, in 1843. He died there on August 6, 1844, and was buried on the plantation of Peter Swanson.

References

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  1. ^ "Alabama : Past Governors Bios". National Governors Association. Retrieved June 12, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Dictionary of North Carolina Biography: Vol. 4, L–O. By William S. (ed.) Powell, p. 296.
  3. ^ "Alabama Governors: Gabriel More". Alabama Department of Archives and History. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
  4. ^ "Moore, Gabriel". OurCampaigns. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  5. ^ "Voteview | Plot Vote: 23rd Congress > Senate > Vote 21". voteview.com. UCLA Social Sciences Division Department of Political Science. Retrieved June 30, 2023.

Sources

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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's at-large congressional district

March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823
Succeeded by
New seat Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alabama's 1st congressional district

March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1829
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Alabama
November 25, 1829 – March 4, 1831
Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 3) from Alabama
March 4, 1831 – March 4, 1837
Served alongside: William R. King
Succeeded by