William Ladd
Encyclopedia
William Ladd was one of the earliest American
anti-war activists, and the first president of the American Peace Society
.
Ladd was born in Exeter, New Hampshire
as a direct lineal descendant of Daniel Ladd, Sr. (1613–1693). After he graduated from Harvard
in 1797 he shipped as a seaman from Portsmouth, New Hampshire
in a vessel owned by his father, a local merchant. At 20 years old he was a capable New England
captain
and had seen much of the world. He briefly had a plantation in Florida
which ultimately failed as he refused to use slave labor.
A disbeliever in war for any purpose, he turned landsman at the outbreak of the War of 1812
, when the British blockade temporarily stopped commerce. He moved to Minot, Maine
, became a prosperous farmer, and devoted both his tongue and his pen to preaching non-resistance. In 1823 he wrote the first of 32 Essays on Peace and War, published in the Christian Mirror of Portland, Maine
, which laid out a Christian case for pacifism. Subsequent essays would criticize the slave trade and the raising of the Bunker Hill Monument
in Charlestown, Massachusetts
as a memorial to war.
State and local "peace societies" already existed in the 1820s, but in 1828 the American Peace Society
was formed with Ladd as its first president. The first meeting was held in New York City
. Ladd wrote and published the society's newspaper, The Harbinger of Peace (later The Calumet) from his house in Minot, Maine
. In 1837, due to Ladd's influence and against the arguments of other members, including the president of Bowdoin College
, the constitution of the American Peace Society
was amended to declare that all war was contrary to the Christian Gospel.
In 1840 Ladd proposed a plan for a World Congress
and Court of Nations, somewhat similar to the later League of Nations
or United Nations
. He published An Essay on the Congress of Nations (1840). He was partly influenced by the military build-up the year before in his home state of Maine
because of a border dispute with Britain, the so-called Aroostook War
.
Ladd is buried in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Also see:American Peace Society
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anti-war activists, and the first president of the American Peace Society
American Peace Society
The American Peace Society is a pacifist group founded upon the initiative of William Ladd, in New York City, May 8, 1828. It was formed by the merging of many state and local societies, from New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, of which the oldest, the New York Peace Society, dated...
.
Ladd was born in Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town's population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood...
as a direct lineal descendant of Daniel Ladd, Sr. (1613–1693). After he graduated from Harvard
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 1797 he shipped as a seaman from Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
in a vessel owned by his father, a local merchant. At 20 years old he was a capable New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
captain
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
and had seen much of the world. He briefly had a plantation in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
which ultimately failed as he refused to use slave labor.
A disbeliever in war for any purpose, he turned landsman at the outbreak of 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...
, when the British blockade temporarily stopped commerce. He moved to Minot, Maine
Minot, Maine
Minot is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,248 at the 2000 census. The town includes the villages of West Minot and Minot Center...
, became a prosperous farmer, and devoted both his tongue and his pen to preaching non-resistance. In 1823 he wrote the first of 32 Essays on Peace and War, published in the Christian Mirror of Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, which laid out a Christian case for pacifism. Subsequent essays would criticize the slave trade and the raising of the Bunker Hill Monument
Bunker Hill Monument
-External links:****: cultural context**...
in Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown, Massachusetts
Charlestown is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and is located on a peninsula north of downtown Boston. Charlestown was originally a separate town and the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; it became a city in 1847 and was annexed by Boston on January 5, 1874...
as a memorial to war.
State and local "peace societies" already existed in the 1820s, but in 1828 the American Peace Society
American Peace Society
The American Peace Society is a pacifist group founded upon the initiative of William Ladd, in New York City, May 8, 1828. It was formed by the merging of many state and local societies, from New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, of which the oldest, the New York Peace Society, dated...
was formed with Ladd as its first president. The first meeting was held in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Ladd wrote and published the society's newspaper, The Harbinger of Peace (later The Calumet) from his house in Minot, Maine
Minot, Maine
Minot is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,248 at the 2000 census. The town includes the villages of West Minot and Minot Center...
. In 1837, due to Ladd's influence and against the arguments of other members, including the president of Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
, the constitution of the American Peace Society
American Peace Society
The American Peace Society is a pacifist group founded upon the initiative of William Ladd, in New York City, May 8, 1828. It was formed by the merging of many state and local societies, from New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, of which the oldest, the New York Peace Society, dated...
was amended to declare that all war was contrary to the Christian Gospel.
In 1840 Ladd proposed a plan for a World Congress
Congress
A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different nations, constituent states, independent organizations , or groups....
and Court of Nations, somewhat similar to the later League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
or United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. He published An Essay on the Congress of Nations (1840). He was partly influenced by the military build-up the year before in his home state of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
because of a border dispute with Britain, the so-called Aroostook War
Aroostook War
The Aroostook War was an undeclared nonviolent confrontation in 1838/1839 between the United States and Great Britain over the international boundary between British North America and Maine. The compromise resolution win a mutually accepted border between the state of Maine and the provinces of...
.
Ladd is buried in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
Also see:American Peace Society
American Peace Society
The American Peace Society is a pacifist group founded upon the initiative of William Ladd, in New York City, May 8, 1828. It was formed by the merging of many state and local societies, from New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, of which the oldest, the New York Peace Society, dated...