Governor Joseph Desha

By Sanders

Historical Marker #2021 in Scott County notes the home of Kentucky Governor Joseph Desha, a general during the War of 1812.

The Pennsylvania-born Desha moved to Kentucky in 1781. By 1792, Desha was farming in Mason County. After fighting Native Americans in the 1790s, Desha pushed for war with Britain and served in the War of 1812. He was a general and was, an early writer noted, "one of the heroes of the battle of the Thames."

After serving in the Kentucky House and Senate, Desha was a six-term U. S. Congressman. Although he lost the 1820 gubernatorial election to War of 1812 veteran John Adair, in 1824 Desha defeated Christopher Tompkins to become Kentucky's governor.

Like many governors from this period, Desha was an 1812 veteran who used his military experience as a springboard for high political office.

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Sanders, “Governor Joseph Desha,” ExploreKYHistory, accessed May 22, 2024, https://explorekyhistory.ky.gov/items/show/59.

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