Peter T. Washburn

Peter T. Washburn

Peter Thacher Washburn (born September 7, 1814 in Lynn , Massachusetts , † February 7, 1870 in Woodstock , Vermont ) was an American politician and governor of the state of Vermont from 1869 to 1870 .

Early years

Peter Washburn attended Dartmouth College until 1835 . After completing a law degree, he was admitted to the bar in 1838. He then began to work in his new profession, first in Ludlow and from 1844 in Woodstock. Between 1844 and 1852 he was employed as a reporter ( Reporter of Decisions ) at the Vermont Supreme Court .

Political rise

Washburn was an MP in the Vermont House of Representatives between 1853 and 1854 . Washburn became a member of the newly formed Republican Party . In 1860 he led the Vermont delegates' group to the Republican National Convention , where Abraham Lincoln was nominated as the party's presidential candidate. He also became a member of his state's militia. There he rose to lieutenant colonel and deputy commander of the unit. At the beginning of the American Civil War , Washburn took an active part in the fighting. Then he became a brigadier general to Adjutant General appointed by Vermont. In this capacity he was responsible for the recruitment and training of soldiers. The transfer of the recruits to the combat units was also one of his tasks. He held this office throughout the war. After the war, he became President of the Woodstock Railroad Company and one of the directors of the Rutland and Woodstock Railroad. He was also a curator of the University of Vermont and the State Agricultural School.

Vermont governor

In 1869 he was elected the new governor of his state. He took up his new office on October 15, 1869. As governor, Washburn campaigned for the use of the state's natural resources. A law was also passed extending the governors' term of office from one to two years. Washburn could not benefit from this. He died on February 7, 1870 after less than four months in office. Washburn was the first Vermont governor to die in office. His office was taken over by Lieutenant Governor George Whitman Hendee . Peter Washburn was married twice and had three children in total.

literature

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

Web links

• Peter Washburn in the National Governors Association (English)
• Peter T. Washburn in the database of Find a Grave (English)