US Congressman and Governor of Iowa Territory. He moved to Washington, Kentucky with his family at age nine and was educated at Lexington's Transylvania Seminary. He then studied law, attained admission to the bar in 1800 and began a practice in Washington. Chambers served as Major and aide to General William Henry Harrison in the War of 1812, and took part in the Battle of the Thames. He served in the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1812 and 1815, and was a Judge of the state Court of Appeals from 1825 to 1827. In 1828 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as an Adams candidate in the special election held when Thomas Metcalfe resigned, serving from December, 1828 to March, 1829. He served again in the Kentucky House in 1830 and 1831. In 1834 Chambers was elected to the US House as an Anti-Jacksonian and won reelection in 1836 as a Whig, serving from 1835 to 1839. In his final term he was Chairman of the Committee on Claims. In 1841 he was appointed Governor of Iowa Territory, serving until 1845. Failing health then resulted in his return to Kentucky, where he lived in retirement except for an 1849 appointment to a commission that negotiated a treaty with the Sioux Indians. He died while visiting one of his daughters, and was buried in the family cemetery near "Cedar Hill", the home he had constructed in the early 1800s.
US Congressman and Governor of Iowa Territory. He moved to Washington, Kentucky with his family at age nine and was educated at Lexington's Transylvania Seminary. He then studied law, attained admission to the bar in 1800 and began a practice in Washington. Chambers served as Major and aide to General William Henry Harrison in the War of 1812, and took part in the Battle of the Thames. He served in the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1812 and 1815, and was a Judge of the state Court of Appeals from 1825 to 1827. In 1828 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as an Adams candidate in the special election held when Thomas Metcalfe resigned, serving from December, 1828 to March, 1829. He served again in the Kentucky House in 1830 and 1831. In 1834 Chambers was elected to the US House as an Anti-Jacksonian and won reelection in 1836 as a Whig, serving from 1835 to 1839. In his final term he was Chairman of the Committee on Claims. In 1841 he was appointed Governor of Iowa Territory, serving until 1845. Failing health then resulted in his return to Kentucky, where he lived in retirement except for an 1849 appointment to a commission that negotiated a treaty with the Sioux Indians. He died while visiting one of his daughters, and was buried in the family cemetery near "Cedar Hill", the home he had constructed in the early 1800s.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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