1856 Missouri gubernatorial election

{{short description|none}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 1856 Missouri gubernatorial election

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1852 Missouri gubernatorial election

| previous_year = 1852

| next_election = 1857 Missouri gubernatorial special election

| next_year = 1857{{nbsp}}(special)

| election_date = August 4, 1856

| image_size = x150px

| image1 = TPolk.jpg

| nominee1 = Trusten Polk

| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 46,993

| percentage1 = 40.79%

| image2 = 3x4.svg

| nominee2 = Robert C. Ewing

| party2 = Know-Nothing

| popular_vote2 = 40,589

| percentage2 = 35.23%

| image3 = Thomas Hart Benton (senator).jpg

| nominee3 = Thomas H. Benton

| party3 = Independent Democrat

| popular_vote3 = 27,618

| percentage3 = 23.97%

| map_image = 1856 Missouri gubernatorial election results map by county.svg

| map_size =

| map_caption = County Results
Polk: {{legend0|#BDD3FF|30-40%}} {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40-50%}} {{legend0|#7996E2|50-60%}} {{legend0|#6674DE|60-70%}} {{legend0|#584CDE|70-80%}} {{legend0|#3933E5|80-90%}} {{legend0|#0D0596|>90%}}
Ewing: {{legend0|#F2DFFC|30-40%}} {{legend0|#DCB7EF|40-50%}} {{legend0|#C88FE4|50-60%}} {{legend0|#B368D9|60-70%}}
Benton: {{legend0|#ACF2F2|30-40%}} {{legend0|#7DDDDD|40-50%}} {{legend0|#51C2C2|50-60%}} {{legend0|#2AACAC|60-70%}} {{legend0|#009696|70-80%}}
{{legend0|#808080|No Data}}

| title = Governor

| before_election = Sterling Price

| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| after_election = Trusten Polk

| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{ElectionsMO}}

The 1856 Missouri gubernatorial election was held on August 2, 1852, the Democratic nominee, Trusten Polk, defeated Know-Nothing candidate Robert C. Ewing (running under the American Party label), and former Senator Thomas H. Benton. Benton ran as an Independent Democrat under the label "Benton Democrat."

In February 1857, Trusten Polk would be elected to the United States Senate; he therefore resigned the governorship, was replaced by Lt. Gov. Hancock Lee Jackson, and forced a special election to be called for August 1857 to fill the remainder of the term.{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/history/historicallistings/governors.asp |title=SOS, Missouri – State Archives: Governors |publisher=Sos.mo.gov |access-date=2013-03-22}}