Charles Anderson Wickliffe Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

Charles Anderson Wickliffe (1788-1869) was Democratic U. S. Representative from Kentucky (1823-1833, 1861-1863) and Governor of Kentucky (1839-1840) as well as U. S. Postmaster General (1841-1845) and a delegate to the Kentucky state constitutional convention (1849). He also served in the U. S. Army during the War of 1812, most notably as aide-de-camp to General Samuel Caldwell at the Battle of the Thames on Oct. 5, 1813. Wickliffe was a friend of President Polk; they had roomed together while both were in Congress. Tyler's appointment of a Democrat to this highly political post was one of many factors alienating Tyler from the Whig Party which had given him the Vice Presidential nomination in 1840. Robert Walker (1801-1869) was a US Senator from Mississippi (1835-1845), Secretary of the Treasury in the Polk administration (1845-1849) and Territorial Governor of Kansas (1857). Under the "spoils system" which prevailed until civil service reform at the end of the 19th century, post office jobs were a major source of patronage for political parties. With regard to US government appointments, it was customary to consult Senators from the home state before making an appointment.