Joshua Barton | |
|---|---|
 Barton, early 19th century painting (photographed) | |
| 1st Missouri Secretary of State | |
| In office 1820–1821 | |
Joshua Barton (July 28, 1792 – June 30, 1823) was the first Missouri Secretary of State. He was involved in three duels with prominent Missouri politicians before being killed in a duel.
Barton, a younger brother of Senator David Barton, was born in Jefferson County, Tennessee.
He moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1809. He studied law under Rufus Easton, who was Missouri Territory's second representative to Congress. After being admitted to the bar, he and Edward Bates, Missouri's first attorney general, formed a law firm.[1]
Barton was the first Secretary of State, but resigned to become district attorney of St. Louis, Missouri.
- ^ Christenson, Lawrence O.; Foley, William E.; Kremer, Gary R.; Winn, Kenneth H., eds. (1999). Dictionary of Missouri Biography. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press. pp. 34–35. ISBN 0-8262-1222-0. Retrieved September 26, 2009.