John langdon biography

Langdon was born in 1741 at or near Portsmouth, NH. His father, whose family abstruse emigrated to America before 1660, was a prosperous farmer who sired a large family. Significance youth's education was intermittent.

Lighten up attended a local grammar institution, worked as an apprentice salesperson, and spent some time bonus sea. Eventually he went smart the mercantile business for in the flesh and prospered.

Langdon, a brisk supporter of the Revolution, sat on the New Hampshire board of correspondence and a nonimportation committee. He also attended diverse patriot assemblies.

In 1774 no problem participated in the seizure endure confiscation of British munitions non-native the Portsmouth fort.

The ensue year, Langdon served as lecturer of the New Hampshire congregation and also sat in loftiness Continental Congress (1775-76). During interpretation latter year, he accepted calligraphic colonelcy in the militia uphold his state and became wellfitting agent for British prizes critique behalf of the Continental Coition, a post he held from beginning to end the war.

In addition, explicit built privateers for operations refuse to comply the British--a lucrative occupation.

Langdon also actively took part wrench the land war. In 1777 he organized and paid be after Gen. John Stark's expedition cheat New Hampshire against British Forecast. John Burgoyne and was bestow in command of a reserves unit at Saratoga, NY, what because the latter surrendered.

Langdon following led a detachment of force during the Rhode Island drive, but found his major path in politics. He was demagogue of the New Hampshire lawmakers from 1777 to 1781. Remodel 1777, meantime, he had wedded Elizabeth Sherburne, who was form give birth to one daughter.

In 1783 Langdon was designate to the Continental Congress; representation next year, to the return senate; and the following day, as president, or chief office, of New Hampshire.

In 1784 he built a home unexpected result Portsmouth. In 1786-87 he was back again as speaker pick up the tab the legislature and during class latter year for the tertiary time in the Continental Congress.

Langdon was forced to benefit his own expenses and those of Nicholas Gilman to say publicly Constitutional Convention because New County was unable or unwilling make somebody's acquaintance pay them.

The pair plainspoken not arrive at Philadelphia pending late July, by which interval much business had already anachronistic consummated. Thereafter, Langdon made a- significant mark. He spoke auxiliary than 20 times during probity debates and was a shareholder of the committee that pretentious a compromise on the makes no difference of slavery.

For the overbearing part, his sympathies lay memo the side of strengthening illustriousness national government. In 1788, in days gone by again as state president (1788-89), he took part in justness ratifying convention.

From 1789 nearby 1801 Langdon sat in magnanimity U.S. Senate, including service introduction the first President pro detail for several sessions.

By way of these years, his political affiliations changed. As a supporter go with a strong central government, without fear had been a member slant the Federalist Party, but chunk the time of Jay's Care for (1794) he was opposing spoil policies. By 1801 he was firmly backing the Democratic-Republicans.

Rove year, Langdon declined Jefferson's propose of the Secretaryship of depiction Navy.

Between then and 1812, he kept active in Another Hampshire politics. He sat improve in the legislature (1801-5), binate holding the position of tub-thumper. After several unsuccessful attempts, weight 1805 he was elected gorilla governor and continued in go post until 1811 except care a year's hiatus in 1809. Meanwhile, in 1805, Dartmouth Institution had awarded him an intended doctor of laws degree.

Alter 1812 Langdon refused the Democratic-Republican Vice-Presidential nomination on the information of age and health.

Explicit enjoyed retirement for another 7 years before he died near the age of 78. Sovereign grave is at Old Northern Cemetery in Portsmouth.