American Democratic Senator from Ohio, born at Edentown, NC; studied at Chillicothe Academy, OH; was admitted to the bar in 1827. He was an uncle of Allen G. Thurman, of Ohio. At the early age of twenty-four years he acquired considerable fame by his successful defense of a client charged with murder. This led, on account of his brilliant pleading, to his election in 1831 to Congress, and as the youngest member of the House. In 1837 he took his seat in the Senate, being also the youngest member of that body. He was re-elected in 1843. In 1848 he refused the offer of the nomination of the Democratic national convention for President because he was pledged to Lewis Cass’s interests. He was made governor of Ohio in 1873, and was a candidate again in 1875, but was defeated by R. B. Hayes, afterward President. Mr. Allen was an impetuous, vehement speaker, advocated greenback currency as the basis of the national monetary system, and was noted for the popular sobriquets attached to his name. He died on the 11th of July 1879.
