Christopher Greenup

Christopher Greenup
Christopher Greenup as Governor
3rd Governor of Kentucky
In office
September 5, 1804 – September 1, 1808
LieutenantJohn Caldwell
Thomas Posey
Preceded byJames Garrard
Succeeded byCharles Scott
9th Secretary of State of Kentucky
In office
February 3, 1813 – March 13, 1813
GovernorIsaac Shelby
Preceded byMartin D. Hardin
Succeeded byMartin D. Hardin
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
In office
1798
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 1st district
In office
November 9, 1792 – March 3, 1797
Preceded byNew congressional seat
Succeeded byThomas Terry Davis
Member of the Kentucky Senate
In office
1792
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office
1785
Personal details
Bornc. 1750 (1750)
Fairfax County, Virginia Colony, British America
DiedApril 27, 1818(1818-04-27) (aged 67–68)
Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting placeFrankfort Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic-Republican
SpouseMary Catherine Pope
ProfessionSoldier, Lawyer, Surveyor
Signature
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceContinental Army, Virginia militia
RankColonel
Battles/warsRevolutionary War

Christopher Greenup (c. 1750 – April 27, 1818) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative and the third Governor of Kentucky. Little is known about his early life; the first reliable records about him are documents recording his service in the Revolutionary War where he served as a lieutenant in the Continental Army and a colonel in the Virginia militia.

After his service in the war, Greenup helped settle the trans-Appalachian regions of Virginia. He became involved in politics, and played an active role in three of the ten statehood conventions that secured the separation of Kentucky from Virginia in 1792. He became one of the state's first representatives, and served in the Kentucky General Assembly before being elected governor in a race where, due to his immense popularity, he ran unopposed.

Greenup's term in office was marred by accusations that he had participated in the Burr Conspiracy to align Kentucky with Spain prior to the former's separation from Virginia, but he vigorously and successfully rebutted these charges. Following his term as governor, he became less active in the political arena. He died on April 27, 1818. Greenup County, Kentucky and its county seat were both named in his honor.