Born in Graves County, Kentucky. Graduate of Marvin College in Clinton, Kentucky, in 1897. He studied law at the University of Virginia Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1901 and practiced in Paducah, Kentucky. Married Dorothy Brower June 23, 1903. They had three children.

He served as prosecuting attorney 1905 to 1909, judge 1909 to 1913. He was elected to the House of Representatives and served March 4, 1913, to March 3, 1927. He was elected to the Senate and served March 4, 1927, to January 19, 1949. He sponsored the bill to authorize the Daniel Boone Half Dollar. He was Democratic majority leader 1937 to 1947 and minority leader 1947 to 1948.

He was elected Vice President under Truman in 1948 and was inaugurated January 20, 1949. Married Jane Hadley November 18, 1949. He served until January 20, 1953. He was considered as a presidential candidate in 1952 but declined to run because of his age. He returned to the Senate January 3, 1955, and served until his death.

He died in Lexington, Virginia.

Barkley was the first Vice President to be honored with a medal produced at the mint (USM 651). Dies were by Beatrice Fenton.

legal ref: Public Law 81-221, 63 Stat. 599

bio: BDC; BDEB; DAB; Failor; NCAB 42; WAB; WWWA-3

obit: CB Jul 56