Thomas Hart Benton

Thomas Hart Benton (1782 — 1858) was a US politician and senator. He is known for supporting frontier explorations and opposing extension of slavery to the territories. He was a Democratic member of the US Senate from Missouri during 1821 — 51.

His grandnephew's name was also Thomas Hart Benton (1889 — 1975), who was a painter. His paintings represented life in the Midwest, and belonged to the American naturalist school.