Stephen R. Bradley
Encyclopedia
Stephen Row Bradley was an American politician.
Bradley was born in Wallingford, Connecticut
. His parents were Moses and Mary Bradley, members of prominent New England families who had arrived from England in the 17th century. Bradley spent his childhood in Wallingford and studied at Yale
, graduating in 1775. He then fought on the American side in the Revolutionary War beginning as a captain but rising to the rank of colonel.
Bradley moved to Vermont
in 1779. He studied law, settled in Westminster, Vermont and began practicing law there. He soon became an important citizen of the town and held the positions of register of probate and town clerk. He also served as a county judge in 1783 and served for seven years in the Vermont House of Representatives
in the 1780s. He served as Speaker
of the Vermont House during 1785. He also served as a judge of the Vermont Superior Court during the 1780s. He was active in settling Vermont's boundary disputes with New Hampshire
.
When Vermont became part of the United States
on March 4, 1791, Bradley and Moses Robinson
were elected by the state legislature to be the first people to fill Vermont's two senate seats. Bradley entered the United States Senate
in 1791 and supported the anti-administration faction. He was defeated for reelection in 1794.
Bradley returned to Westminster and was active in law and local politics, serving on the town council. He was reelected to the United States Senate
for Vermont in 1800, as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party
. He was reelected in 1807. He served as President pro tempore of the Senate from 1801 to 1803 and from 1807 to 1809. He retired from the Senate in 1813 and also then retired from politics. He returned to Westminster and lived there again for 5 years. In 1818 he moved to Walpole, New Hampshire
where he lived for the rest of his life and died. His body was returned to Westminster, Vermont, to be buried in the Westminster Cemetery.
Bradley was known as an intelligent and eccentric man, and a good lawyer and orator.
He married three times, his first two wives having died before him. He had five children, and over a dozen grandchildren. His three daughters married rich and prominent men. His son William Czar Bradley
was also a politician and served several terms in Congress. His other son, Stephen Bradley, Jr. drowned while at school in New Haven, Connecticut
.
Bradley was born in Wallingford, Connecticut
Wallingford, Connecticut
Wallingford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 43,026 at the 2000 census.- History :Wallingford was established on October 10, 1667, when the Connecticut General Assembly authorized the "making of a village on the east river" to 38 planters and freemen...
. His parents were Moses and Mary Bradley, members of prominent New England families who had arrived from England in the 17th century. Bradley spent his childhood in Wallingford and studied at Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, graduating in 1775. He then fought on the American side in the Revolutionary War beginning as a captain but rising to the rank of colonel.
Bradley moved to Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
in 1779. He studied law, settled in Westminster, Vermont and began practicing law there. He soon became an important citizen of the town and held the positions of register of probate and town clerk. He also served as a county judge in 1783 and served for seven years in the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
in the 1780s. He served as Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Vermont House during 1785. He also served as a judge of the Vermont Superior Court during the 1780s. He was active in settling Vermont's boundary disputes with 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...
.
When Vermont became part of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on March 4, 1791, Bradley and Moses Robinson
Moses Robinson
Moses Robinson prominent Vermont political figure who served as governor during the Vermont Republic, and helped steward Vermont's transition to U.S. statehood. Not to be confused with the black dancer Moses J. Robinson from West Haven, Utah.Robinson was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts where he...
were elected by the state legislature to be the first people to fill Vermont's two senate seats. Bradley entered 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 1791 and supported the anti-administration faction. He was defeated for reelection in 1794.
Bradley returned to Westminster and was active in law and local politics, serving on the town council. He was reelected 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...
for Vermont in 1800, as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party
Democratic-Republican Party (United States)
The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along...
. He was reelected in 1807. He served as President pro tempore of the Senate from 1801 to 1803 and from 1807 to 1809. He retired from the Senate in 1813 and also then retired from politics. He returned to Westminster and lived there again for 5 years. In 1818 he moved to Walpole, New Hampshire
Walpole, New Hampshire
Walpole is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,734 at the 2010 census.The town's central settlement, where 605 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Walpole census-designated place , and is east of New Hampshire Route 12...
where he lived for the rest of his life and died. His body was returned to Westminster, Vermont, to be buried in the Westminster Cemetery.
Bradley was known as an intelligent and eccentric man, and a good lawyer and orator.
He married three times, his first two wives having died before him. He had five children, and over a dozen grandchildren. His three daughters married rich and prominent men. His son William Czar Bradley
William Czar Bradley
William Czar Bradley was a U.S. Representative from Vermont, son of Stephen Row Bradley.Born in Westminster, Vermont, Bradley received his early education in the schools of Cheshire, Connecticut, and Charlestown, New Hampshire, and for a short time attended Yale College. He studied law, was...
was also a politician and served several terms in Congress. His other son, Stephen Bradley, Jr. drowned while at school in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
.