HUGH McVAY Governor of Alabama July 17, 1837 - November 22, 1837 Hugh McVay was born in 1788 in South Carolina. He moved to Madison County, Mississippi Territory, in 1807 and represented that county in the Territorial Legislature, 1811-1818. In 1819 McVay moved to Lauderdale County, and he represented that county in the 1819 Alabama Constitutional Convention. McVay served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1820-1825 and in the State Senate from 1825-1844. In July 1837 Alabama Governor Clement Comer Clay was appointed to the US Senate. Hugh McVay had been elected Speaker of the Senate in 1836 and as provided for in the Alabama Constitution McVay as Senate Speaker became Acting Governor of Alabama on July 17, 1837. McVay served until November 22, 1837, when A. P. Bagby was elected Governor. McVay's short term of office was characterized by a continuation of the problems and policies of the C. C. Clay administration. The Creek and Seminole Wars and the financial situation of the state bank were the major concerns of 1837. McVay continued to serve in the Alabama Senate until 1844 when he retired to his Lauderdale County plantation. McVay died in 1851. Source:Alabama Department of Archives & History 624 Washington Avenue; Montgomery, Alabama 36130 Hugh McVay was a patriarch in the legislative history of Alabama, having commenced his career while it was a Territory, and for a period of forty years, with slight intermission, was con nected with the State Government in one or other of its principal departments. In 1819, he was a delegate from the county of Lauderdale, in the Convention at Hunts ville, which framed the first Constitution of Alabama. He was elected President of the Senate in 1836, and became ex-offido Governor on the resignation of Gov. Clay, who had been elected to the Senate of the United States. His messages were unpretending, plain, frank, and honest, in keeping with his whole character from the time he entered public life in the zenith of manhood, to an advanced age, when he voluntarily retired. He was a Senator in 1840, a Democrat in principle, and yet so liberal in his feelings as to differ from the majority, when he believed wrong or injustice was likely to be done to his political opponents, an example of which was given by his vote against the General Ticket bill, he being the only Demo crat who opposed that measure. Occasionally he made brief re marks on the floor, never anything like a formal speech with flour ishes and pretensions to win applause. It was more like a ven erable father, with his sons around him, communicating wholesome advice to be fair and just to all men, and to walk uprightly. He was always heard with great deference and respect, of which no man was more worthy. No blemish rested upon his name; but he was loved and trusted by all men, and was indeed a patriot without guile, and a citizen without reproach. He was a planter of large means, and a professor of religion, having been many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died about the Reminiscences of Public Men in Alabama 1872 Photo of Historical Marker by "Wrong Way Dave" on Find-A-Grave In the summer of 1837, Hugh McVay (1766-1851) began his brief career as governor by a one-vote stroke of political fortune. As president of the state senate before the office of lieutenant governor was created, McVay succeeded Governor Clement Comer Clay, who resigned the office to serve Alabama in the U.S. Senate. The gubernatorial election of 1837 had already been held, and Arthur P. Bagby of Monroe County had been elected. Thus McVay served only three months until Bagby took office in November. Hugh McVay was born near Greenville, South Carolina, in 1766. In the 1780s, he married Polly Hawks, with whom he had nine children. The family lived in Kentucky and Tennessee before moving to Alabama in 1807, where they became some of Madison County's earliest squatters. McVay bought land, became a surveyor, and was one of the first attorneys admitted to the Madison County bar, although he apparently never developed a law practice. Polly McVay died in 1817, and soon after this, McVay moved his family to Lauderdale County and settled near Florence. In 1827, he married Sophia W. Davison in Memphis, a marriage that did not last. Sophia ran away with a man she claimed was her cousin while her husband was at the state capital in Tuscaloosa. McVay then obtained one of the few divorces ever granted by the state legislature. This domestic rift had no known adverse consequences for the future governor. McVay maintained a strong, long-term interest in state politics. He represented Madison County in both the Mississippi and Alabama territorial legislatures and was the Lauderdale County delegate to the 1819 constitutional convention in Huntsville. Beginning in 1820, he represented Lauderdale in the state legislature, serving five years in the lower house and 17 years in the state senate. Because McVay was an early supporter of President Andrew Jackson, the local aristocracy often opposed him, but ordinary farmers regularly supported him. In 1836, he became president of the senate by only a one-vote margin. Most officials, especially those in the state legislature, understood that the interim governor was only a temporary custodian of the office and would wield little power. Nearly all of the surviving correspondence of his governorship refers to him either as "acting" governor or ex officio governor or does not address him by name at all. The office of lieutenant governor would not be created until the Constitutional Convention of 1867. It was then abolished by the Constitutional Convention of 1875 and restored by the 1901 Constitutional Convention. McVay took office while the economic depression known as the Panic of 1837 continued to wreak havoc in Alabama, especially on its overextended and badly administered state bank. McVay, a fearless Jacksonian Democrat known as a strong opponent of the banking system in Alabama, generally favored a hands-off, laissez-faire approach to the economy. Distrustful legislators who benefited from their support of the bank decided that secrecy and noncooperation were the wisest strategies to use with this governor. They deliberately kept documents related to the bank's financial dealings from him. As he prepared to leave office, McVay admitted to the legislature and to the public that he had no information on how the banks were operating. He did not even know if any of the bonds issued to provide capital for the bank had sold at all and blamed the banks for the depression's impact in Alabama. On November 22, 1837, the interim governor left office. In 1840, McVay returned to the Alabama Senate and again was elected its president. During this period, he frequently played the maverick's role. He was the only member of his party to vote against the controversial General Ticket Bill, which called for congressmen to be elected statewide rather than by districts in an attempt by Democrats to diminish Whig strength. McVay cast the only opposition vote to a senate bill that provided for flogging anyone who embezzled from a bank, and he was the only senator from the Tennessee Valley to vote against establishing a state bank branch in that area. McVay remained in the senate until 1844, when he returned to his home in Lauderdale County. In an age of flamboyant oratory, McVay's speeches were infrequent, generally short, and to the point. A contemporary described them as "plain, frank, and honest." His plain speech matched his appearance and simple style of dress. Although his lack of formal education produced numerous unfavorable comments, he was actually a shrewd, tough man who voted independently and worried little about his popularity. By the time he retired, McVay was a wealthy planter who owned more than 1,000 acres and 40 slaves. He died on May 9, 1851, and was buried in the family cemetery outside of Florence. Additional Resources Bjurberg, Richard, II. "A Political and Economic Study of Alabama's Governors and Congressmen, 1831-1861." Master's thesis, Auburn University, 1947. Brantley, William H. Banking in Alabama, 1816-1860. 2 vols. Birmingham: Birmingham Printing Co., 1961. McVay, Hugh. Administrative files. Alabama Department of Archives and History, Montgomery. Mary Jane McDaniel -- University of North Alabama Hugh McVay, planter, governor of Alabama, was born in 1788 in South Carolina, and died in 1851 in Lauderdale County. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army, and a farmer. Mr. McVay was a brother of Hon. Zadoc McVay, of Lawrence County. He received a limited education and in 1807 came to Alabama and first settled as a planter in Madison County. He represented Madison County in the territorial legislature of Mississippi, 1811-1818 and on the formation of Alabama territory moved to Lauderdale County, 1818, representing that county in the convention at Huntsville, which framed the State constitution, 1819. He was elected to teh lower house of the State legislature, serving from 1820 to 1825 and was elected to he State senate in 1825, and served by successive elections until 1844. He was elected president of the senate in 1836, defeating Samuel B. Moore, by one vote, and in June 1837, when Gov. Clay resigned to become a US Senator, discharged the duties of executive, by virtue of his office as president of the senate, until relieved of its duties by the inauguration of Gov. Bagby, in December. He was a Democrat; an extensive planter; and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Married Miss Hawks, of South Carolina. One of his sons lived near Florence. Last residence; Lauderdale County. Source: History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography By Thomas McAdory Owen One of the earliest public men of the State was for many years a resident of Lauderdale. This was Hugh McVay. He was a native of South Carolina, and born about 1778. His father was a revolutionary soldier of 1776, and a farmer. The son received but a limited education. In 1807 he came to Alabama, and first settled as a planter in Madison. As far back as 1811 he was a member of the territorial legislature of Mississippi, representing Madison county. In tins capacity he served till the territory of Alabama was organized. He came to Lauderdale in 1818, and represented the county in the convention which framed the State constitution. He was a member of the 'general assembly in 1820, and, up to 1844, when he left tho senate, he had served five years in the lower and seventeen years in the upper house of the legislature. In 1836 he was elected president of the senate by one majority- over Ex-Got. Samuel B. Moore of Pickens, and in June of the following year became governor by the resignation of Gov. Clay. He was relieved of its duties in December, when Gov. Bagby was inaugurated. His death occurred in 1851 in this county. He left a reputation for usefulness, morality, integrity, and good sense; but had no claims to high capacity save that born of experience. His wife was a Miss Hawks of South Carolina, and he has a son residing near Florence. Hon. Zadoc McVay of Lawrence was the brother of Gov. McVay. Alagama - Her Resources adn History by Willis Brewer 1872 Buried at Moore/McVay Cemetery, Lauderdale Co AL 1788 - 09 May 1851 - Photo by "Wrong Way Dave" on Find-A-Grave