Benjamin Pierce

Benjamin Pierce

Benjamin Pierce (born December 25, 1757 in Chelmsford , Middlesex County , Province of Massachusetts Bay , † April 1, 1839 in Hillsborough County , New Hampshire ) was an American politician and twice governor of the state of New Hampshire between 1827 and 1830 .

Early years

Benjamin Pierce attended local schools in his home country. After the early death of his father, he grew up on his uncle's farm. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War , he joined the American army and remained a soldier throughout the war, at times under the command of George Washington . Pierce took part in a few battles. On his return to New Hampshire, he was tasked with building the Hillsborough militia because of his military experience . Pierce was also a member of the New Hampshire Militia, among whose ranks he was Brigadier General by 1805. In 1785, he bought a farm in southwest New Hampshire, which he expanded over the years.

Political rise

Pierce was an MP in the New Hampshire House of Representatives between 1789 and 1802 . In 1791 he was also a delegate to a meeting to revise the state constitution. From 1803 to 1809 and again in 1814 he was a member of the Governors Executive Council . From 1809 to 1812 and between 1818 and 1827 he was Sheriff in Hillsborough County. Benjamin Pierce was a member of the Democratic Republican Party , as its candidate he was elected the new governor of his state in 1827.

New Hampshire Governor

Pierce took up his new office on June 7, 1827. The attempt at direct re-election failed in 1828, so that he had to give up his office on June 5, 1828 to John Bell . After a successful candidacy a year later, he was able to complete another one-year term as governor between 1829 and 1830. Mining in New Hampshire experienced a boom during his reign. The Hopkinton Academy was founded at that time. Benjamin Pierce was a close friend of President Andrew Jackson .

Another résumé

After the end of his second term on June 3, 1830 Pierce withdrew from politics. He occupied himself with his private affairs and died in 1839. He was married twice and had nine children, including the son Franklin Pierce , who was to become President of the United States between 1853 and 1857 .

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 3, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• Benjamin Pierce in the National Governors Association (English)
• Biography on the website of the State of New Hampshire (English)
• Benjamin Pierce in the database of Find a Grave (English)