Governor of Ohio, State Court Judge. A native of Ireland, he was born in County Tyrone, emigrated to the United States in 1769, and settled near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He moved to Kentucky in 1790 with his wife after they were married and then moved to the Ohio Territory in 1793 and settled in Adams County. Kirker was appointed by Territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair as Justice of the Peace in 1797. He was a delegate to the first Constitutional Convention of Ohio in 1802 and was elected as a Democratic Republican to Ohio's General Assembly in 1803 when Ohio became a state. He served as a member of the State Senate from 1803 to 1815 and was Speaker of the Senate from 1804 to 1815. When Governor Edward Tiffin resigned to accept election to the United States Senate in 1807, Kirker became the Acting Governor and served from March, 1807 to October, 1808 as Ohio's 2nd Governor. He was defeated in the gubernatorial election of 1807 by Return J. Meigs but remained in office for twelve months because Meigs had not lived in Ohio for the required four straight years prior to election. As Governor, Kirker constantly dealt with Native American threats to the new inhabitants of Ohio although no major hostilities occurred. He was defeated in the next election and returned to his role in the Ohio Senate. From 1816 to 1817, he was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives. He was appointed as Associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in Adams County, Ohio and served from 1821 to 1824. He died on his farm in Adams County in 1837.
Governor of Ohio, State Court Judge. A native of Ireland, he was born in County Tyrone, emigrated to the United States in 1769, and settled near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He moved to Kentucky in 1790 with his wife after they were married and then moved to the Ohio Territory in 1793 and settled in Adams County. Kirker was appointed by Territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair as Justice of the Peace in 1797. He was a delegate to the first Constitutional Convention of Ohio in 1802 and was elected as a Democratic Republican to Ohio's General Assembly in 1803 when Ohio became a state. He served as a member of the State Senate from 1803 to 1815 and was Speaker of the Senate from 1804 to 1815. When Governor Edward Tiffin resigned to accept election to the United States Senate in 1807, Kirker became the Acting Governor and served from March, 1807 to October, 1808 as Ohio's 2nd Governor. He was defeated in the gubernatorial election of 1807 by Return J. Meigs but remained in office for twelve months because Meigs had not lived in Ohio for the required four straight years prior to election. As Governor, Kirker constantly dealt with Native American threats to the new inhabitants of Ohio although no major hostilities occurred. He was defeated in the next election and returned to his role in the Ohio Senate. From 1816 to 1817, he was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives. He was appointed as Associate Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in Adams County, Ohio and served from 1821 to 1824. He died on his farm in Adams County in 1837.
Bio by: K Guy
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