William Chamberlain (politician)
Encyclopedia
William Chamberlain was a United States Representative from Vermont
. He was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts
and attended the common schools there. He moved with his father to Loudon, New Hampshire
in 1774. He served as a sergeant during the American Revolutionary War
and later engaged in land surveying and farming. He moved to Peacham, Vermont
in 1780. Engaging in politics, he was the clerk of the proprietors of the town the same year, town clerk 1785-1797, and town representative for twelve years. His grandson, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, later became a notable civil war general, and the governor of Maine.
Chamberlain was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives
1785, 1787-1796, 1805, and 1808. He also served as a justice of the peace 1786-1796 and delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1791. Militarily, he was a Brigadier General
of Vermont militia in 1794 and was promoted to Major General
in 1799. He was the assistant judge of Orange County in 1795 and chief judge of Caledonia County 1796-1803. He servered as secretary of the board of trustees of the Caledonia County Grammar School 1795-1812 and as the president of th body 1813-1828. He also was a state councilor 1796-1803. In 1800, he was Federalist presidential elector. He was elected as a Federalist to the Eighth Congress (March 4, 1803 - March 3, 1805) and reelected to the Eleventh Congress (March 4, 1809 - March 3, 1811). After Congress, he was Lieutenant Governor
of Vermont 1813-1815 and a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1814. He died in Peacham, Caledonia County, Vermont
in 1828 and was buried in Peacham Cemetery.
Note: He signed his name "Chamberlin" and is sometimes listed as such http://vermont-archives.org/govhistory/elect/results3/pdf/Rep3.pdf.
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...
. He was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Hopkinton is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, just under 30 miles west and south of Boston. The town is best known as the starting point of the Boston Marathon, held annually on Patriots' Day in April, and as the home of computer storage firm EMC Corporation.For geographic and demographic...
and attended the common schools there. He moved with his father to Loudon, New Hampshire
Loudon, New Hampshire
Loudon is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,317 at the 2010 census. Loudon is the home of New Hampshire Motor Speedway....
in 1774. He served as a sergeant during the American 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...
and later engaged in land surveying and farming. He moved to Peacham, Vermont
Peacham, Vermont
Peacham is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 665 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.7 square miles , of which 46.7 square miles is land and 0.9 square mile is...
in 1780. Engaging in politics, he was the clerk of the proprietors of the town the same year, town clerk 1785-1797, and town representative for twelve years. His grandson, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, later became a notable civil war general, and the governor of Maine.
Chamberlain was a member of 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...
1785, 1787-1796, 1805, and 1808. He also served as a justice of the peace 1786-1796 and delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1791. Militarily, he was a Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of Vermont militia in 1794 and was promoted to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in 1799. He was the assistant judge of Orange County in 1795 and chief judge of Caledonia County 1796-1803. He servered as secretary of the board of trustees of the Caledonia County Grammar School 1795-1812 and as the president of th body 1813-1828. He also was a state councilor 1796-1803. In 1800, he was Federalist presidential elector. He was elected as a Federalist to the Eighth Congress (March 4, 1803 - March 3, 1805) and reelected to the Eleventh Congress (March 4, 1809 - March 3, 1811). After Congress, he was Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of Vermont 1813-1815 and a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1814. He died in Peacham, Caledonia County, Vermont
Caledonia County, Vermont
Caledonia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 31,227. Its shire town is St. Johnsbury.The county was given the Latin name for Scotland, in honor of the many settlers who claimed ancestry there....
in 1828 and was buried in Peacham Cemetery.
Note: He signed his name "Chamberlin" and is sometimes listed as such http://vermont-archives.org/govhistory/elect/results3/pdf/Rep3.pdf.