Amos Kendall
Who was Amos Kendall?
American politician (1789–1869)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Amos Kendall (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Amos Kendall was born on August 16, 1789, in Dunstable, Massachusetts. He became a key political and media figure in early nineteenth-century America. He studied at Lawrence Academy at Groton and graduated from Dartmouth College, gaining the skills he used in his law, journalism, and political career. After finishing school, Kendall went to Kentucky, where he worked as a tutor and quickly joined the lively political scene there.
In Kentucky, Kendall gained attention as the editor-in-chief of the Argus of Western America, a popular newspaper in Frankfort, the state capital. His writing effectively combined strong political arguments with popular appeal, influencing public opinion and establishing him as an important figure in the growing Democratic coalition. He used connections and his newspaper to help organize the Democratic Party nationally, focusing on messaging and gathering support for Andrew Jackson's presidential campaigns.
Kendall's loyalty to Jackson led to his appointment as Postmaster General in 1835, serving under both Jackson and Martin Van Buren. In this role, he made significant improvements to the postal system's efficiency. He was also part of Jackson's so-called Kitchen Cabinet, an informal group of advisers who influenced policy. His strategic role in the Democratic Party made him a notable political figure during the Jacksonian era.
After leaving government work, Kendall returned to writing and business. In 1843, he wrote an early biography of Andrew Jackson, using his firsthand experience. Spotting potential in Samuel Morse's telegraph, he became an early investor, helping to spread telegraph lines across the U.S., changing how news and information traveled.
Later, Kendall focused on philanthropy, particularly supporting education for deaf students in Washington, D.C. He donated land and funds to establish what would become Gallaudet University, a leading institution for the deaf. Amos Kendall died on November 12, 1869, in Washington, D.C., after contributing greatly to American politics, communication, and public life over his lifetime.
Before Fame
Amos Kendall grew up in Dunstable, Massachusetts, at a time when America was still shaping its government and political identity. His family didn't have much money, but he was determined to get an education. He went to Lawrence Academy at Groton and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1811. These schools taught him classical subjects and rhetoric, which were crucial for his future work as a writer and political communicator.
After graduating, Kendall took a job as a tutor for Henry Clay's family in Kentucky. This role connected him with influential people in frontier politics. Although he later disagreed politically with Clay, the experience plunged him into the intense political conflicts of Kentucky. Kendall studied law and started writing for local newspapers. His knack for persuasive writing caught the eye of both editors and politicians. By the early 1820s, he had established himself at the Argus of Western America, which would propel him into national fame.
Key Achievements
- Served as United States Postmaster General under Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren, modernizing the postal system
- Edited the Argus of Western America and used it to build the Democratic Party into a nationally organized political force
- Played a central role in Jackson's Kitchen Cabinet, shaping administration policy and political strategy from behind the scenes
- Invested in and promoted Samuel Morse's telegraph, accelerating the transformation of American communications
- Donated land in Washington, D.C., that became the foundation for Gallaudet University, supporting education for the deaf
Did You Know?
- 01.Kendall provided the land in Washington, D.C., that became the campus of Gallaudet University, the pioneering institution for the deaf, and his donation is still commemorated in the school's history.
- 02.As Postmaster General, Kendall controversially allowed Southern postmasters to suppress abolitionist mailings, a decision that generated fierce national debate over free speech and federal authority.
- 03.Kendall served as a business agent for Samuel Morse and helped negotiate the commercial agreements that allowed the telegraph network to expand rapidly across the United States in the 1840s.
- 04.He began his time in Kentucky as a tutor in the household connected to Henry Clay, the very politician he would later oppose as a loyal foot soldier of the Jacksonian Democratic movement.
- 05.Kendall wrote his biography of Andrew Jackson while Jackson was still alive, giving the work an unusual intimacy, as Kendall had direct access to the former president's recollections and papers.