Hugh McVay, governor of Alabama, was born in South Carolina, in 1788. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary army and a farmer. Hugh received a limited education, and in 1807 removed to Mississippi territory and settled in Madison as a planter. He represented Madison county in the territorial legislature, 1811-18, and in 1818 on the formation of Alabama territory he removed to Lauderdale county, and in 1819 represented that county in the convention at Huntsville, Ala., that framed the state constitution. He was a representative in the Alabama legislature, 1820-25; a state senator, 1825-37, and 1838-44; and was elected president by the state senate in 1836, defeating Samuel B. Moore by one vote. He became governor of Alabama, ex officio, on the resignation of Governor Clement C. Clay, who was elected to the U.S. senate in June, 1837, and was relieved of his duties in the following December, when Governor Bagby was inaugurated. He married Miss Hawks of South Carolina. He died in Lauderdale county, Ala., in 1851.

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans 1904

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