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Overview
Distributed exclusively for the Kentucky Historical Society William Preston was a leading representative of Kentucky's slaveholding, landed gentry, the group who dominated economic, political, and social life in the commonwealth before the Civil War. Preston was heir to valuable lands adjacent to Louisville and married to the daughter of the state's largest slave owner, and his Ivy League education and leadership abilities made him a natural spokesman for the interests of the South's antebellum elite. As a legislator, diplomat, and soldier, Preston defended the interests of his region for three decades, and his successes and failures were linked to the fortunes of the South. Among his many accomplishments, Preston served as President James Buchanan's minister to Madrid and, during the Civil War, as Jefferson Davis's minister to the Emperor Maximilian in Mexico. His story reveals much about the early history of Kentucky and the region.
Synopsis
"Distributed exclusively for the Kentucky Historical Society William Preston was a leading representative of Kentucky's slaveholding, landed gentry, the group who dominated economic, political, and social life in the commonwealth before the Civil War. Preston was heir to valuable lands adjacent to Louisville and married to the daughter of the state's largest slave owner, and his Ivy League education and leadership abilities made him a natural spokesman for the interests of the South's antebellum elite. As a legislator, diplomat, and soldier, Preston defended the interests of his region for three decades, and his successes and failures were linked to the fortunes of the South. Among his many accomplishments, Preston served as President James Buchanan's minister to Madrid and, during the Civil War, as Jefferson Davis's minister to the Emperor Maximilian in Mexico. His story reveals much about the early history of Kentucky and the region.
Editorials
From the Publisher
"I thoroughly enjoyed it. The manuscript is well written and well researched, a solid contribution to our understanding of both William Preston and nineteenth-century Kentucky." -- Mark V. Wetherington, Director, Filson Historical Society
"Superbly researched and documented and finely crafted, this biography of Preston is a multidimensional story of power and privilege, family connections and gender roles, public service and proslavery politics." -- Military Heritage
"Beautifully written. This biography makes an important contribution to Kentucky history." -- Nelson L. Dawson. Kentucky historian, former director of publications at the Fil
"Valuable for its look at the intricate web of business interests and family ties that undergirded Southern society." -- NYMAS Review
"Should be the definitive work of this important but neglected figure in Kentucky history." -- Ohio Valley History
"This is a fascinating account that illuminates many aspects of American history before the Civil War. Preston's views, service in the Mexican War, and political activities offer insights into antebellum politics and society and show the growth of sectional tensions." -- Ralph D. Gray, Indiana University, Indianapolis
"I not only learned some things that I did not know about Preston's missions to Spain and Mexico, but also a lot about his Civil War career. The study is nicely contextualized throughout, a true model of what a life-and-times biography should be." -- Robert May, Purdue University