Browse Items (79 total)

  • Collection: Vermont Governors

Thomas Chittenden, Vermont Governor 1778-1789, 1790-1797

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When Vermont became an independent republic in July 1777, Chittenden served as a delegate to the convention that framed Vermont’s constitution and was elected president of the Vermont Council of Safety. He served as the republic’s governor from 1778…

Moses Robinson, Vermont Governor 1789-1790

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In 1789, Robinson finished second in the popular vote to Governor Thomas Chittenden. There was, however, no majority winner as required by the Vermont Constitution and the general assembly elected Robinson.
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Paul Brigham, Vermont Governor 1797

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In 1796, Brigham was elected Lieutenant Governor, becoming acting governor upon the death of Thomas Chittenden in 1797. After seven weeks, Brigham resumed his post as Lieutenant Governor with the inauguration of the new governor, Isaac…

Isaac Tichenor, Vermont Governor 1797-1807, 1808-1809

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In 1796, Tichenor was selected to fill an unexpired term in the U.S. Senate and was reelected the following year for a full six-year term but resigned after winning the governorship.
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Israel Smith, Vermont Governor 1807-1808

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Defeated by Isaac Tichenor in the gubernatorial race of 1801, Smith went on to serve as a U.S. Senator form 1803 to 1807. He came back to defeat Tichenor in 1807, but Tichenor defeated him again one year later.
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Jonas Galusha, Vermont Governor 1809-1813, 1815-1820

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Galusha was elected for governor annually from 1809 until 1813, when the people failed to elect a governor and Martin Chittenden was chosen by the state legislature. In 1814 the decision was again up to the legislature and Chittenden was once more…

Martin Chittenden, Vermont Governor 1813-1815

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Chittenden was elected governor by the state legislature in 1813 and again in 1814 after no candidate succeeded in winning a majority of the popular vote. The last Federalist to serve as governor of Vermont, Chittenden condemned the War of 1812.…

Richard Skinner, Vermont Governor 1820-1823

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During his gubernatorial administration, Skinner opposed the Missouri Compromise and supported protective tariffs.
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Cornelius Peter Van Ness, Vermont Governor 1823-1826

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As governor, Van Ness favored-though unsuccessfully-the abolition of imprisonment for debt and urged education for the poor as a means of fighting crime. He is also credited with establishing the state’s system for choosing presidential…

Ezra Butler, Vermont Governor 1826-1828

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Butler's gubernatorial administration was marked by the abolition of lotteries and the passage of legislation requiring the examination of teachers.
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Samuel Chandler Crafts, Vermont Governor 1828-1831

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As governor, Crafts advocated legislation to abolish imprisonment for debt but was unsuccessful in securing its passage. He also opposed freemasonry.
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William Adams Palmer, Vermont Governor 1831-1835

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Chosen the Anti-Masonic candidate for governor in 1831, Palmer failed to receive a majority of the popular vote in a two-man race but did receive a plurality and was selected the winner by the state legislature. In two of the next three gubernatorial…