William Taylor Barry (February 5, 1784 - August 30, 1835) was an American statesman and jurist. Born near Lunenburg, Virginia, he moved to Fayette County, Kentucky in 1796 with his parents, an American Revolutionary War veteran and his wife. He attended the common schools, Pisgah Academy and Kentucky Academy in Woodford County, Transylvania University at Lexington and graduated from William and Mary College at Williamsburg, Virginia in 1803, after which studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1805. He commenced practice at Jessamine County, Kentucky and then at Lexington.
He was a member of Kentucky House of Representatives in 1807, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1810 to 1811, served in the War of 1812, was a U.S. Senator from Kentucky, 1814 to 1816; then a member of the Kentucky Senate, 1817 to 1821, and Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, 1820 to 1824, then secretary of state of Kentucky, 1824 to 1825, and a candidate for Governor of Kentucky in 1828. He was U.S. Postmaster General in Andrew Jackson's administration from 1829 to 1835.
He was appointed Minister to Spain, but died en route to his post, while stopped in Liverpool, England. August 30, 1835. He was originally interred and a cenotaph still stands at St. James's Cemetery, Liverpool, England; he was reinterred in 1854 at Frankfort Cemetery, Frankfort, Kentucky.
Barry County, Michigan is named in his honor.
This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Preceded by: George Walker United States Senator (Class 2) from Kentucky 1814 - 1816 Succeeded by: Mardin D. Hardin Preceded by: Gabriel Slaughter Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky 1820-1824 Succeeded by: Robert B. McAfee Preceded by: John McLean United States Postmaster General 1829-1835 Succeeded by: Amos Kendall
