Cave Johnson Letters
Two of these letters, both addressed to an unknown recipient, concern subscriptions to the Weekly Globe. The third (dated 1843) is addressed to John H. Caustine and concerns fees for dealing with spoliation claims.
Dates
- 1832 June 17-1843 December 23
Conditions Governing Access
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Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
Two of these letters, both addressed to an unknown recipient, concern subscriptions to the Weekly Globe. The third (dated 1843) is addressed to John H. Caustine and concerns fees for dealing with spoliation claims.
Biographical/Historical Note
Cave Johnson was born to Thomas and Mary (Noel) Johnson in Robertson County, Tennessee on January 11, 1793. He attended Cumberland College in Nashville, Tennessee, studied law, and was admitted to the Bar in 1814. He began practicing law in Clarksville, Tennessee and served as the Prosecuting Attorney of Montgomery County (1817) before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Jacksonian in 1829. Johnson served in this capacity until 1837 and was reelected to the House as a Democrat in 1839. He continued in this position until 1845, when he was appointed Postmaster General of the United States. Johnson went on to serve as the Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court (1850 and 1851), as President of the Bank of Tennessee (1854-1860), and as the U.S. Commissioner in settling the affairs of the U.S. and the Paraguay Navigation Company (1860). During the Civil War, Johnson was a reluctant Confederate and surrendered Clarksville to Union forces on February 20, 1862. He received a presidential pardon and was elected to the State Senate in 1866. The prevailing Brownlow forces, however, refused to allow him to take his seat. Cave Johnson died in Clarksville on November 23, 1866 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
Special Collections purchased these letters in November of 1977.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository