John Langdon

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John Langdon (born June 26, 1741 in Portsmouth , New Hampshire Colony , † September 18, 1819 ibid) was an American politician and between 1785 and 1812 several times governor of the state of New Hampshire. Between 1789 and 1801 he represented his state in the US Senate , of which he was the first pro tempore president .

Early years and political advancement

Langdon was born in colonial New Hampshire and attended Hale Latin Grammar School there . After school he went to sea for a few years before he became the owner of a ship and a dealer. He supported the American Revolution from the start and became a member of the New Hampshire Militia. During the War of Independence he was also involved in military skirmishes with the British. Between 1775 and 1776 he was a member of the Continental Congress . Then he was entrusted with the supervision of the construction of some warships. Between 1776 and 1782 and from 1786 to 1787 he was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives . He was temporarily President of the House ( Speaker ). In between he was in the New Hampshire Senate from 1784 to 1785 . He was also a delegate to the constituent conference of this state in 1778. In 1785 he was first elected governor. His official title at that time was "President of New Hampshire".

Governor and US Senator

Langdon was governor of his state four times, from 1785 to 1786, from 1788 to 1789, from 1805 to 1809 and finally between 1810 and 1812. Between his terms in 1787 he was again a member of the Continental Congress and the Constituent Assembly of the United States . He was also a member of the body that ratified this Constitution for New Hampshire. Between March 4, 1789 and March 3, 1801 he was the first Class 3 Senator to represent his state in Congress . There he was also elected the first pro tempore president on April 6, 1789. He held this office until August 9, 1789 and then again from November 1792 to December 1793. During his first tenure as President pro tempore, he oversaw the counting of electoral votes for the first presidential election.

Other political activities

In the last few years of his political activity, Langdon was a member of the Democratic Republican Party . In 1801 he turned down an offer from President Thomas Jefferson , who offered him the office of Secretary of the Navy . Instead, Langdon was once again a member of the House of Representatives in his home state between 1801 and 1805, and was President of the House for the last two years. In 1812 he was offered the vice-presidency under President James Madison , but he also declined. After that, he retired.

various

John Langdon was married to Elizabeth Sherburne, with whom he had two children. In New Hampshire, the town of Langdon was named after him. John Langdon died on September 18, 1819 in his native Portsmouth and was buried there in the North Cemetery. His brother Woodbury Langdon (1739-1805) was a member of the Continental Congress in 1779.

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.

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personal data
SURNAME Langdon, John
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH June 26, 1741
PLACE OF BIRTH Portsmouth , New Hampshire
DATE OF DEATH September 18, 1819
Place of death Portsmouth , New Hampshire