Christopher Greenup

Christopher Greenup
Christopher Greenup as Governor
3rd Governor of Kentucky
In office September 5, 1804 – September 1, 1808
Lieutenant	John Caldwell Thomas Posey
Preceded by	James Garrard
Succeeded by	Charles Scott
9th Secretary of State of Kentucky
In office February 3, 1813 – March 13, 1813
Governor	Isaac Shelby
Preceded by	Martin D. Hardin
Succeeded by	Martin 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 by	New congressional seat
Succeeded by	Thomas Terry Davis
Member of the Kentucky Senate
In office 1792
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office 1785
Personal details
Born	c. 1750 (1750) Fairfax County, Virginia Colony, British America
Died	April 27, 1818(1818-04-27) (aged 67–68) Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S.
Resting place	Frankfort Cemetery
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse	Mary Catherine Pope
Profession	Soldier, Lawyer, Surveyor
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	Continental Army, Virginia militia
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	Revolutionary 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.