William Haile (politician, 1807)

William Haile

William Haile (born May 1807 in Putney , Windham County , Vermont , † July 22, 1876 in Hinsdale , New Hampshire ) was an American politician and from 1857 to 1859 governor of the state of New Hampshire.

Early years and political advancement

William Haile had only a very limited education in the local schools in his home country. As a teenager he came to Chesterfield , where he worked for a shopkeeper between 1823 and 1828. He later went into business for himself and opened his own shop in Center Village . He stayed in this place until 1835, then moved to Hinsdale, where he continued his shop until 1846 and at the same time worked in the wood business. He also founded a textile factory there.

Between 1846 and 1850 he was an MP in the New Hampshire House of Representatives . He returned there in 1853 and 1856 for one legislative period. In between he was a member of the State Senate from 1854 to 1856 . In 1855 he was president of this body. William Haile joined the then newly formed Republican Party , as its candidate he was elected the first Republican governor of his state in 1857.

New Hampshire Governor

Haile took up his new office on June 4, 1857. After re-election in 1858, he was able to remain in office until June 2, 1859. As a Republican, Haile was against the spread of slavery and condemned the ruling of the United States Supreme Court under Roger B. Taney , according to which escaped slaves had to be returned to their former masters. Haile was in favor of restricting immigration and against the public sale of alcohol. On these two points he continued the policy of his predecessor Ralph Metcalf . He also advocated a reform of the school system, which he was only able to implement in part.

After the end of his governorship, Haile withdrew from politics. He returned to his business interests in Hinsdale. In 1873 he moved to Keene . William Haile died in 1876. He and his wife Sabrina Shaw Walker had four children, including their son William, who was Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts from 1890 to 1893 .

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

• William Haile in the National Governors Association (English)
• Biography of New Hampshire (English)
• William Haile in the database of Find a Grave (English)