William Slade

William Slade

William Slade Jr. (born May 9, 1786 in Cornwall , Vermont Republic , † January 18, 1859 in Middlebury , Vermont) was an American politician and governor of the state of Vermont from 1844 to 1846 . Between 1831 and 1843 he represented his state as a member of the US House of Representatives .

Early years and political advancement

William Slade attended his home public schools and Middlebury College . After a subsequent law degree and his admission to the bar in 1810, he began to work in Middlebury in this profession. In this city he also published a local newspaper between 1814 and 1816 and ran a bookstore and a printing company. The Vermont state codes and other state government documents were also relocated there.

At the beginning of his political career, Slade was a member of the Democratic Republican Party . In 1812 he was one of James Madison's electors in the presidential election . Between 1815 and 1822 he was Secretary of State, executive officer of the State of Vermont. He then served briefly as a judge in Addison County . From 1823 to 1829 he was employed by the State Department in Washington. After the dissolution of his party, Slade first joined the anti-Masonic movement in Vermont ( Anti-Masonic Party ) and then the Whig Party .

Congressman and Governor

After the death of Congressman Rollin Carolas Mallary , Slade was elected his successor to the US House of Representatives. After a few re-elections, he was able to exercise his mandate between November 1, 1831 and March 3, 1843. William Slade was an opponent of slavery and a proponent of import duties. At that time, both issues played an important role in national politics. After serving in the federal capital, Slade was a notary public at the Vermont Supreme Court between 1843 and 1844 . In 1844 he was the Whigs' candidate for governor. The outcome of the election was so close that the legislature had to appoint the governor. This decided on Slade. Overall, Slade was between October 11, 1844 and October 9, 1846 governor of his state. His tenure was overshadowed by the outbreak of the Mexican-American War , to which Vermont also had to make its contribution. The governor was personally an opponent of this war and the policies of President James K. Polk ; he spoke out firmly against the annexation of Texas . In Vermont, the school system was reorganized under Governor Slade. A personal conflict with the US Senator Samuel S. Phelps also led to tensions between Slade and his party, which subsequently withdrew their support.

After the end of his governorship, William Slade was a member of the Board of National Popular Education until his death in 1859 . The aim of this organization was to promote education policy in the west of the United States by transferring teachers from the east to this part of the country. Ex-Governor Slade had nine children with his wife, Abigail Foot.

Web links

• William Slade at the National Governors Association (English)
• William Slade in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• William Slade in the database of Find a Grave (English)