A senator, attorney, statesman, and judge, John Rowan wore many hats throughout his career. Rowan was born in 1773 in Pennsylvania, the son of Revolutionary War veteran and former three-term sheriff, Captain William Rowan. In 1783, Captain Rowan and the Rowan family embarked on the treacherous journey west from Pennsylvania to Kentucky. After a slow arduous trip with multiple unexpected delays, the Rowan family finally arrived in Louisville in Spring of 1783. By 1784, the Rowans settled down on their own tract of land near the Green River. Their land, known as Fort Vienna, became the present-day site of Calhoun, KY.
In 1790, Captain Rowan moved his family to Bardstown, KY to pursue a better education. The young John Rowan began his studies at Salem Academy, widely considered one of the best academic institutions in the region. Some of Rowan’s classmates at Salem Academy included Felix Grundy (U.S. Attorney), John Allen (KY State Senator), John Pope (U.S. Senator), Joseph Hamilton Daviess (U.S. District Attorney). Rowan was also part of a debate society that included multiple future governors. After completing his early education, John moved to Lexington to read law under the guidance of former Kentucky Attorney General, George Nicholas. In 1795, Rowan was admitted to the Kentucky bar and moved to Louisville to begin practicing law.
Rowan kicked off his legal career when he was appointed as a public prosecutor. However, his first conviction had such a profound effect on him that he vowed to never serve as a prosecutor again. From that point forward, Rowan only represented defendants. Around this time, Rowan began construction of his family home—an estate that would come to be known as Federal Hill. Federal Hill is widely considered to be one of the first brick houses constructed in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In 1799, Rowan was selected as a delegate to represent Nelson County at Kentucky’s second constitutional convention in 1799. There, he advocated for regular citizens to have a larger role in the government. Rowan’s efforts paid off: the 1799 Kentucky Constitution banned electors, thus allowing citizens to vote directly for governors and state senators.
In 1804, Rowan was appointed Secretary of State by Governor Christopher Greenup. He served in this capacity until 1806, when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Following Rowan’s time in Congress, he was elected to represent Nelson County in the Kentucky House of Representatives. He served in the Kentucky House from 1813 to 1817. In 1819, Rowan was appointed as a judge on the Kentucky Court of Appeals. Despite his resignation after only two years, he was still referred to as “Judge Rowan” for the rest of his life.
In 1822, Rowan was elected to represent Jefferson and Oldham Counties in the Kentucky House of Representatives. In the House, he quickly became the head of the Relief Faction, a political group that was favorable to debtors facing the financial hardship of the Panic of 1819. Following the 1824 election, the relief faction had gained the majority in both the Kentucky Senate and House. The strengthening faction then elected leader Rowan to the U.S. Senate. He served in the Senate from 1825 to 1831, acting as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee for part of this stint. By the time of the 1830 election, the Whig Party had skyrocketed in popularity. At the same time, support for Rowan’s re-election had begun to dwindle. As a result, Whig founder Henry Clay was elected to succeed Rowan in the U.S. Senate.
John Rowan was renowned as a highly skilled and popular orator. He spoke at many important engagements throughout his life. Rowan provided the eulogy for his good friend (and original founder of Louisville), George Rogers Clark. Rowan was also chosen to host a visiting party to Louisville that included presidents James Monroe and Andrew Jackson. In 1825, Rowan was again chosen to host a Louisville reception that included Marquis de Lafayette.
After the conclusion of Rowan’s term in the Senate, he returned home to live in Bardstown and Louisville. He became less active in politics but continued to delve into new ventures. In 1836, Rowan was one of three individuals to found the Louisville Medical Institute, later known as the University of Louisville Medical School. Rowan served as the Institute’s first president until 1842. In this same era, Rowan also served as the first president of the Kentucky Historical Society.
In 1843, Rowan fell ill and passed away. Accordingly, he was buried at Federal Hill. Rowan requested to have no grave marker. His parents had no grave markers, and he felt he should not be honored above them. Despite Rowan’s wishes, a marker was later placed on the grave. After Rowan’s death, Federal Hill, stayed within the family until 1922, when it was sold to the Commonwealth for preservation. The estate is now part of My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown. In 1856, Rowan’s legacy was further cemented when a new Kentucky county was formed out of parts of Fleming and Morgan Counties. The county was named Rowan County in honor of John Rowan and all his lifetime achievements.
