Alexander William Doniphan: Portrait of a Missouri Moderate

Alexander William Doniphan (1808-1887)—Missouri attorney, military figure, politician, and businessman—is one of the most significant figures in antebellum Missouri. From the 1830s to the 1880s, Doniphan was active in a variety of affairs in Missouri and held firm to several underlying principles, including loyalty, hard work, the sanctity of the republic, and commitment to Christian charity. However, the key to Doniphan's importance was his persistent moderation on the critical issues of his…