Abel P. Upshur

Abel Parker Upshur (1790 to 1844) was a lawyer, planter, judge and politician in Virginia. He was also a slaveowner. For decades to was involved in Virginia state politics, while his brother and a nephew became distinguished U.S. Navy officers. Judge Upshur became the Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of State in the administration of President John Tyler, who was also a Virginian. Upshur negotiated the 1845 annexation treaty under which the Republic of Texas became part of the United States and assisted in ensuring it was brought in as a slave state. He was killed on February 28, 1844, when a gun on the warship USS Princeton exploded in the course of a demonstration.