Governor. After a brief legal career, he became involved with anti-slavery journalism and was a strong supporter of Abraham Lincoln. He entered politics as Secretary of the Republican State Committee and served from 1859 until 1874. He served as New Hampshire Secretary of State from 1872 to 1873 and 1875 to 1876. He was the Secretary of the New Hampshire College of Presidential Electors for every Presidential election from 1860 through 1880. In 1877, he was elected Governor of New Hampshire and was re-elected the following year. During his tenure in the governor's office, several amendments to the state constitution streamlined the state's political system and made it more democratic. A religious test for office holding in the state was abolished, the judicial branch of the state government was reformed and enlarged, and a vagrancy law was adopted. Always a student of history, he was made president of the Bennington Battle Monument Association in 1876. He served as vice president of the New Hampshire Historical Society and was a fellow of the Royal Historical Society of London. In 1887, he was appointed a member of the State Board of Railroad Commissioners. He retired in 1893 and died at his home in Epping, New Hampshire two years later.
Governor. After a brief legal career, he became involved with anti-slavery journalism and was a strong supporter of Abraham Lincoln. He entered politics as Secretary of the Republican State Committee and served from 1859 until 1874. He served as New Hampshire Secretary of State from 1872 to 1873 and 1875 to 1876. He was the Secretary of the New Hampshire College of Presidential Electors for every Presidential election from 1860 through 1880. In 1877, he was elected Governor of New Hampshire and was re-elected the following year. During his tenure in the governor's office, several amendments to the state constitution streamlined the state's political system and made it more democratic. A religious test for office holding in the state was abolished, the judicial branch of the state government was reformed and enlarged, and a vagrancy law was adopted. Always a student of history, he was made president of the Bennington Battle Monument Association in 1876. He served as vice president of the New Hampshire Historical Society and was a fellow of the Royal Historical Society of London. In 1887, he was appointed a member of the State Board of Railroad Commissioners. He retired in 1893 and died at his home in Epping, New Hampshire two years later.
Bio by: Thomas Fisher
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