Claiborne Jackson, Missouri's Governor

Claiborne Fox Jackson (April 4, 1806 – December 6, 1862) was governor of Missouri when the American Civil War began.

Declaring his state "neutral" in the conflict did him little good. President Lincoln failed to recognize that stance and ordered the governor to send soldiers to help the Union crush the "Rebellion."

According to the National Park Service: "Jackson would later take to the field with Major General Sterling Price [for the Confederates]. In July 1861, the pro-Union Missouri State Convention declared the governor's office vacated and appointed Hamilton Gamble as provisional governor in Jackson's place.

"Jackson helped to organize the Missouri State Guard prior to the battle of Wilson's Creek and also led a session of the Missouri Legislature that passed an ordinance of secession.

"The session, and therefore the vote, was not legal, as it did not have a majority of members present. The results of the vote were accepted by the Confederate Government though, and Jackson would serve as the governor of the Missouri government in exile until his death on December 6, 1862."