John Henry Eaton

Born - Died

John Henry Eaton was an American politician.

Eaton was born on June 18th, 1790 near Scotland Neck, Halifax County, North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he graduated. After graduation he passed the bar and became a lawyer. He also served during the War of 1812.

In 1815, Eaton was elected to the Tennessee House of Represetnatives serving until 1816. In 1819, Eaton was elected to the United States Senate. At the time time he was only 28 years old and despite the Constitutional requirement a person be 30 years old to serve in the United States Senate, he was permitted to serve. He served in the Senate for 11 years resigning in 1829.

Eaton was a close personal friend of Andrew Jackson. When Jackson became President, Eaton became part of Jackson's inner circle of advisors. The group was referred to by opponents as Jackson's "Kitchen Cabinet." It is claimed the group often had their meetings in the White House Kitchen.

Eaton's personal life is probably his biggest claim to fame. Eaton was the central figure in what is known as the Petticoat Affair. In 1829, when Eaton resigned from the Senate, he took the position of Secretary of War in the Jackson administration. It was at this same time Eaton, a widower himself, married Peggy O'Neill Timberlake. Peggy had been married to John B. Timberlake a man 22 years her senior. Timberlake passed away in 1828. To the Respectable Women of Washington social circles this was unacceptable behavior and the Eaton's were snubbed in Washington society. There were even rumors Eaton and Peggy had an affair prior to the passing of her husband. Making matters worse politically, the woman leading the charge against the Eaton's was Floride Calhoun, wife of the Vice President.

The infighting and bickering among the wives spilled into Jackson's Cabinet. Eventually Jackson had no choice but to demand the resignation of all of his Cabinet members including Eaton. Eaton was given two posts by Jackson to keep him away from Washington. The first was the Governor of the Florida Territory from 1834 until 1836. He was then made the United States Minister to Spain. He served in the position until 1840, which was well into Martin Van Buren's Presidency. Van Buren and Eaton were friends and both served in Jackson's Cabinet. Van Buren was one of the Cabinet members who came to Eaton's defense.

Eaton passed away on November 17th, 1856.

Eaton was a member of Cumberland Lodge No. 8 in Nashville, Tennesee. He was elected an honorary member of Federal Lodge No. 1 in Washington, D.C. He was also an honorary member of the Grand Lodge of Florida.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.