| Birth: | Jun. 26, 1741 | | Death: | Sep. 18, 1819 | 
US Senator, Governor of New Hampshire, Signer of US Constitution. This native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire became a successful international merchant, acquiring a fleet of ships to conduct business in both London and the Caribbean. Britain's tax policies hurt his shipping business and his colony's economy compelling the businessman to enter politics. He served on several local committees and patriot assemblies designed to monitor British governance and enhance communication between the colonies. In 1774 he led a group of men in confiscating ammunition from a British fort after the King outlawed the exporting of gunpowder and weapons to America. This is considered the first overt act of the Revolutionary movement. From 1775 to 1776 he served in the Continental Congress before resigning to return to New Hampshire to oversee the building of three frigates to be used in the Patriot cause. Although giving up his Congressional seat he remained in public service by serving in the New Hampshire legislature upon his return home. Reportedly in 1777 after a British victory at Ticonderoga the statesman pledged his wealth to help the cash-strapped colony put together an army to defend against a possible enemy invasion. He returned to the Continental Congress in 1787 and soon found himself in Philadelphia as a delegate at the new nation's Constitutional Convention. He supported the proceedings there, seeing the need for a stronger federal government and returned to New Hampshire to work towards the document's ratification. On June 21, 1788 New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, making the Constitution law. Later that year he was elected to the US Senate. The Senate elected Langdon as its president where in this role he counted the electoral votes of the first national election. He was given the honor of letting George Washington know of his election to the presidency and on April 30, 1789 he administered the oath of office to the nation's first President. He resigned his Senate seat in 1801 and returned to the New Hampshire state legislature serving from 1801 to 1805, before serving six terms as governor during the period spanning 1805 to 1811. In 1812 he refused the Republican nomination for Vice-President of the US choosing instead to retire from public service. Seven years later he died in his hometown of Portsmouth. (bio by: Bigwoo)
Search Amazon for John Langdon | | | Burial:
North Cemetery
Portsmouth
Rockingham County
New Hampshire, USA |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Mar 15, 1999
Find A Grave Memorial# 4710 |
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UNITED STATES POST, 1988
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Garver Graver
Added: Jul. 16, 2009 |
Continental Congressman from New Hampshire, 1775-1776, 1787-1787; Delegate to the Constitutional Convention, 1787; Governor of New Hampshire, 1788-1789; Senator from New Hampshire, 1789-1801; Governor of New Hampshire, 1805-1809, 1810-1812.
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Garver Graver
Added: Jul. 16, 2009 |
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C.L. Panagopulos
Added: Feb. 7, 2009 |
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(4.2 after 21 votes)
