Alben William Barkley - Paducah, Ky. - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Alben William Barkley was born in a log cabin in Lowes, Kentucky on November 24, 1877. As a young man he worked on a tobacco farm while attending school. He attended Marvin College, graduating in 1897 with bachelor’s degree. In 1898, he moved to Paducah, Kentucky where he worked as a law clerk for several influential lawyers. During this time, he started to read law and was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 1901 and later continued his studies at the University of Virginia Law School. He returned to Paducah where he opened a successful law practice and became interested in politics. In 1913, Barkley was elected to the United States House of Representatives, an office he would hold from 1913-1927. In 1927, Barkley was elected to the United State Senate and served in that office until 1949. During his term in the senate he served as Majority Leader from 1947-1949. When Harry Truman became President in April 1945, following the death of President Franklin Roosevelt, Barkley supported offered his support to the new President on several front. As a result of Barkley’s support, Truman asked Barkley to deliver the keynote address at the 1948 Democratic National Convention. The speech was so popular with the convention delegates, that they convinced Truman to select Barkley as his running mate. The underdog Truman-Barkley Ticket defeated the Republican Ticket of Thomas Dewey and Earl Warren. Barkley served as Vice-President from January 20, 1949 until January 20, 1953. After completing his term as Vice President, Barkley once again ran for the senate in 1954, winning the election and took office on January 3, 1955. Barkley remained a popular speaker and in 1956 he was invited deliver the keynote address at a mock convention at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. On April 30, 1956, while delivering the address, Alben Barkley suffered a fatal heart attack and collapsed on stage. He was 78-years old. Vice President Alben Barkley is buried in the Mount Kenton Cemetery in Paducah.
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Description: Alben Barkley was born on November 24, 1877 in rural Lowes, Kentucky. A young Alben worked on his parents’ farm and attended school between the fall harvest and the spring planting seasons. He later attended a small local seminary school but failed to finish his studies and entered Marvin College in Clinton where here worked as a janitor in exchange for his academic tuition. He graduated in 1897 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He then enrolled and attended Emory College (now Emory University) and became active in the debating society. He later returned to Marvin College, where he took a job as a teacher, but found that he could not make a living teaching and soon resigned. He moved to Paducah, Kentucky in 1898 and took a job in a local mill. It was in Paducah that Barkley became interested in politics when he took a job as a law clerk for Congressman Charles Wheeler. Barkley soon moved on and began clerking for Judge William Sutphin and former congressman John Hendrick. While working for Sutphin and Hendrick, Barkley began reading law and was admitted to the Kentucky Bar in 1901 and continued his law studies at the University of Virginia. Barkley’s political career took off when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1913 – 1927. In 1927, Barkley was elected to the United State Senate and served in that office until 1949. During his term in the senate he served as Majority Leader from 1947-1949. In April 1945, Harry Truman became President, following the death of President Franklin Roosevelt. Barkley supported Truman on several fronts and was ask by Truman to be the keynote speaker at the 1948 Democratic National Convention. Because of Barkley’s popularity, the convention delegates convinced Truman to select Barkley to be his running mate. The Truman-Barkley Ticket upset the Republican Ticket of Thomas Dewey and Earl Warren. Barkley served as Vice-President from January 20, 1949 until January 20, 1953. After completing his term as Vice President, Barkley once again ran for the senate in 1954. He won the election and took office on January 3, 1955. Barkley remained a popular speaker and in 1956 he was invited deliver the keynote address at a mock convention at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. On April 30, 1956, while delivering the address, Alben Barkley suffered a fatal heart attack and collapsed on stage. He was 78-years old. Vice President Alben Barkley is buried in the Mount Kenton Cemetery in Paducah. Date of birth: 11/24/1877 Date of death: 04/30/1956 Area of notoriety: Politics Marker Type: Headstone Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Dawn to Dusk Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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