Interim Content

Atchison, David Rice

Biography

11 Aug. 1807–26 Jan. 1886. Lawyer, judge, agriculturist, politician, farmer. Born at Frogtown, near Lexington, Fayette Co., Kentucky. Son of William Atchison and Catherine Allen. About 1830, moved to Liberty, Clay Co., Missouri, where he became a prominent lawyer. Retained as lawyer to assist in preparing Latter-day Saint redress petitions during Jackson Co., Missouri, expulsion, 1833. Elected to lower house of Missouri legislature, 1834, 1838. Assisted Alexander W. Doniphan in working with state legislature to create Caldwell Co., Missouri, as haven for Latter-day Saints, 1836. Commanding officer of third division of state militia during Latter-day Saint conflict, 1838. Retained as lawyer to represent JS and other Latter-day Saints during conflict, 1838. Key prosecution witness at Nov. 1838 preliminary hearing for JS and others. Appointed judge of Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Missouri, which included Platte and Clinton counties, 1841. Served in U.S. Senate, 1843–1855; president pro tempore of Senate for several sessions. Died at Gower, Clinton Co., Missouri.

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Photograph, Matthew B. Brady, circa 1844–1860. (Courtesy Library of Congress, Washington DC.)

David R. Atchison. Photograph, Matthew B. Brady, circa 1844–1860. (Courtesy Library of Congress, Washington DC.)

Gender
Male