Samuel Dexter
Encyclopedia
Samuel Dexter was an early American
statesman who served both in Congress and in the Presidential Cabinet.
, he graduated from Harvard University
in 1781 and then studied law at Worcester
under Levi Lincoln, Sr.
, the future Attorney General of the United States. After he passed the bar in 1784, he began practicing in Lunenburg
, Massachusetts
.
He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives
and served 1788 to 1790. He was elected to the 3rd Congress by way of the United States House of Representatives
and then elected as Federalist to the United States Senate
. In December 1799, he memorably wrote the memorial eulogy
to George Washington upon the first president's death. His house in Dedham stands to today.
He served for less than a year as he was appointed United States Secretary of War
by President
John Adams
in 1800. During his time at this station he urged congressional action to permit appointment and compensation of field officers for general staff duty.
Upon Secretary of the Treasury Oliver Wolcott, Jr.
's resignation in December 1800, Adams appointed Dexter as interim Secretary. He then briefly conducted the affairs of the War Office. He administered the oath of office to Chief Justice
John Marshall
, and later declined the ambassadorship to Spain.
He returned to Boston in 1805 and resumed the practice of law. He left the Federalist party to espouse Republican views on the War of 1812
, and he was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Massachusetts
in 1814 and 1815. He was an ardent supporter of the temperance movement
and presided over its first formal organization in Massachusetts
.
He died on May 4, 1816 shortly before his 55th birthday and is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
.
Simon Newton Dexter
was his nephew.
Samuel W. Dexter, founder of Dexter, Michigan
, was his son.
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United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
statesman who served both in Congress and in the Presidential Cabinet.
Life
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, to the Rev. Samuel Dexter, the 4th minister of DedhamDedham, Massachusetts
Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
, he graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1781 and then studied law at Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
under Levi Lincoln, Sr.
Levi Lincoln, Sr.
Levi Lincoln, Sr. was an American revolutionary and statesman who served as a Minuteman at the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, a state legislator in Massachusetts, a participant in Massachusetts' state constitutional convention, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, a U.S...
, the future Attorney General of the United States. After he passed the bar in 1784, he began practicing in Lunenburg
Lunenburg, Massachusetts
Lunenburg is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,086 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Lunenburg, please see the article Lunenburg , Massachusetts....
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
and served 1788 to 1790. He was elected to the 3rd Congress by way of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and then elected as Federalist 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...
. In December 1799, he memorably wrote the memorial eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
to George Washington upon the first president's death. His house in Dedham stands to today.
He served for less than a year as he was appointed United States Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
in 1800. During his time at this station he urged congressional action to permit appointment and compensation of field officers for general staff duty.
Upon Secretary of the Treasury Oliver Wolcott, Jr.
Oliver Wolcott, Jr.
Oliver Wolcott, Jr. was United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1795 to 1800 and the 24th Governor of Connecticut from 1817 to 1827.-Youth and education:...
's resignation in December 1800, Adams appointed Dexter as interim Secretary. He then briefly conducted the affairs of the War Office. He administered the oath of office to Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the United States
The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
John Marshall
John Marshall
John Marshall was the Chief Justice of the United States whose court opinions helped lay the basis for American constitutional law and made the Supreme Court of the United States a coequal branch of government along with the legislative and executive branches...
, and later declined the ambassadorship to Spain.
He returned to Boston in 1805 and resumed the practice of law. He left the Federalist party to espouse Republican views on 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...
, and he was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
in 1814 and 1815. He was an ardent supporter of the temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
and presided over its first formal organization in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
He died on May 4, 1816 shortly before his 55th birthday and is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Mount Auburn Cemetery was founded in 1831 as "America's first garden cemetery", or the first "rural cemetery", with classical monuments set in a rolling landscaped terrain...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
.
Simon Newton Dexter
Simon Newton Dexter
Simon Newton Dexter was an American merchant and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Andrew Dexter, the first American manufacturer of cotton goods....
was his nephew.
Samuel W. Dexter, founder of Dexter, Michigan
Dexter, Michigan
Dexter is a village in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The majority of the village is in the northwest corner of Scio Township with a small portion in Webster Township. The population was 4,067 at the 2010 census...
, was his son.
External links
Retrieved on 2009-5-20|-
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