David Rice Atchison (1807-1886), American lawyer and politician, was a leading Democratic senator during the 1850s. He advocated many unpopular causes, and his career reflected the rough and tumble of frontier politics.

David Atchison was born in Frogtown, near Lexington, Ky., on Aug. 11, 1807. After graduating from Transylvania College in 1825, he studied law and was admitted to the Kentucky bar in 1829. In 1830 he was admitted to the Missouri bar and established a successful law practice in the western part of the state. Between 1833 and 1838 Atchison rose from the rank of captain to major general in the Missouri militia.

During 1833 and 1834 Atchison acted as legal defense for the persecuted Mormons in Missouri and with their support was elected as a Democrat to the state legislature. Although he opposed anti-Mormon Democratic policies, his vigorous support of Andrew Jackson and his opposition to the Bank of the United States made him a...