Joseph Cilley was a United States Senator from New Hampshire

New Hampshire

New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...

.

Cilley was born in Nottingham, New Hampshire

Nottingham, New Hampshire

Nottingham is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,785 at the 2010 census. It is the location of Pawtuckaway State Park.-History:...

, the son of Greenleaf Cilley and his wife Jane Nealy. He was also the grandson of Revolutionary War

American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...

 officer Joseph Cilley

Joseph Cilley (state senator)

Joseph Cilley was a New Hampshire state senator and general.Cilley was born in 1734 at Nottingham, New Hampshire to Captain J. Cilley of the Isles of Shoals and his wife Alice Rawlings. In 1758 Joseph Cilley joined Rogers' Rangers and served in northern New York and Canada...

 after whom he was named. He was the nephew of Bradbury Cilley

Bradbury Cilley

Bradbury Cilley was a United States Representative from New Hampshire. He was born in Nottingham, New Hampshire. He attended the common schools and then engaged in agricultural pursuits....

 and brother of Jonathan Cilley

Jonathan Cilley

Jonathan Cilley was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine. He served part of one term in the 25th Congress. He died in office at Bladensburg, Md. as the result of being challenged to fight a duel with Congressman William J. Graves, a colleague from Kentucky...

. Cilley was educated at Atkinson Academy

Atkinson Academy

Atkinson Academy is a public elementary school located in Atkinson, New Hampshire. It is the oldest standing co-ed school in the United States.-History:Atkinson Academy was founded in 1787 as an all-boys school. It began admitting girls in 1791....

 and joined the army to fight in the War of 1812

War of 1812

The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...

 as an officer in the 21st Infantry Regiment seeing action at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor

Battle of Sackett's Harbor

The Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor or simply the Battle of Sacket's Harbor, took place on 29 May 1813, during the War of 1812. A British force was transported across Lake Ontario and attempted to capture the town, which was the principal dockyard and base for the American naval squadron on the lake...

 and Battle of Chrysler's Farm. Joseph Cilley was severely wounded at the Battle of Lundy's Lane

Battle of Lundy's Lane

The Battle of Lundy's Lane was a battle of the Anglo-American War of 1812, which took place on 25 July 1814, in present-day Niagara Falls, Ontario...

, he was shot through the leg by a musket ball causing a compound fracture

Bone fracture

A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone...

. He attained the brevetted rank of captain, was the quartermaster of the New Hampshire Militia

New Hampshire Militia

The New Hampshire Militia was first organized in March 1680, by New Hampshire Colonial President John Cutt. The King of England authorized the Provincial President to give commissions to persons who shall be best qualified for regulating and discipline of the militia. President Cutt placed Major...

 in 1817, and the division inspector in 1821.

After his military service Joseph Cilley became an aide-de-camp to Governor

Governor of New Hampshire

The Governor of the State of New Hampshire is the supreme executive magistrate of the U.S. state of New Hampshire.The governor is elected at the biennial state general election in November of even-numbered years. New Hampshire is one of only two states, along with bordering Vermont, to hold...

 Benjamin Pierce

Benjamin Pierce (governor)

Benjamin Pierce was an American Democratic-Republican politician. He served as Governor of New Hampshire from 1827 to 1828 and from 1829 to 1830.-Biography:...

 in 1827. He was then elected as a Democrat

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 to the United States Senate

United States Senate

The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...

 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Levi Woodbury

Levi Woodbury

Levi Woodbury was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, a U.S. Senator, Governor of New Hampshire and cabinet member in three administrations. He was the first Justice to have attended law school....

 and served from June 13, 1846 to March 4, 1847. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1846, after which he retired to his farm in Nottingham. He was interred in the general Joseph Cilley Burying Ground in Nottingham Square.

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