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Biographical Sketches
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JOHN LANGDON
New Hampshire
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John Langdon
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Langdon, who stood out at the Convention despite his
late arrival, was a politician and businessman who had enthusiastically
backed the patriot cause during the War for Independence He also enjoyed
long and fruitful careers in New Hampshire and national politics.
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Langdon was born in 1741 at or near Portsmouth, N.H.
His father, whose family had emigrated to America before 1660, was a
prosperous farmer who sired a large family. The youth's education was
intermittent. He attended a local grammar school, worked as an
apprentice clerk, and spent some time at sea. Eventually he went into
the mercantile business for himself and prospered.
Langdon, a vigorous supporter of the Revolution, sat
on the New Hampshire committee of correspondence and a nonimportation
committee. He also attended various patriot assemblies. In 1774 he
participated in the seizure and confiscation of British munitions from
the Portsmouth fort.
The next year, Langdon served as speaker of the New
Hampshire assembly and also sat in the Continental Congress (1775-76).
During the latter year, he accepted a colonelcy in the militia of his
State and became its agent for British prizes on behalf of the
Continental Congress, a post he held throughout the war. In addition, he
built privateers for operations against the Britisha lucrative
occupation.
Langdon also actively took part in the land war. In
1777 he organized and paid for Gen. John Stark's expedition from New
Hampshire against British Gen. John Burgoyne and was present in command
of a militia unit at Saratoga, N.Y., when the latter surrendered.
Langdon later led a detachment of troops during the Rhode Island
campaign, but found his major outlet in politics. He was speaker of the
New Hampshire legislature from 1777 to 1781. In 1777, meantime, he had
married Elizabeth Sherburne, who was to give birth to one daughter.
In 1783 Langdon was elected to the Continental
Congress; the next year, to the State senate; and the following year, as
president, or chief executive, of New Hampshire. In 1784 he built a home
at Portsmouth. In 1786-87 he was back again as speaker of the
legislature, and during the latter year for the third time in the
Continental Congress.
Langdon was forced to pay his own expenses and those
of Nicholas Gilman to the Constitutional Convention because New
Hampshire was unable or unwilling to pay them. The pair did not arrive
at Philadelphia until late July, by which time much business had already
been consummated. Thereafter, Langdon made a significant mark. He spoke
more than 20 times during the debates and was a member of the committee
that struck a compromise on the issue of slavery. For the most part, his
sympathies lay on the side of strengthening the national Government. In
1788, once again as State president (1788-89), he took part in the
ratifying convention.
From 1789 to 1801 Langdon sat in the U.S. Senate,
including service as the first President pro tem for several
sessions. During these years, his political affiliations changed. As a
supporter of a strong central Government, he had been a member of the
Federalist Party, but by the time of Jay's Treaty (1794) he was opposing
its policies. By 1801 he was firmly backing the
Democratic-Republicans.
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Because New Hampshire did not
provide funds, its two delegates, John Langdon and Nicholas Gilman, did
not arrive at the Convention until July 23, 1787, and had to pay their
own way. Rhode Island was the only State not represented, as this
extract from a Philadelphia newspaper also indicates. (Pennsylvania Journal (Philadelphia), May 30, 1787.
Library of Congress.) |
That year, Langdon declined Jefferson's offer of the
secretaryship of the Navy. Between then and 1812, he kept active in New
Hampshire politics. He sat again in the legislature (1801-5), twice
holding the position of speaker. After several unsuccessful attempts, in
1805 he was elected as Governor and continued in that post until 1811
except for a year's hiatus in 1809. Meantime, in 1805, Dartmouth College
had awarded him an honorary doctor of laws degree.
In 1812 Langdon refused the Democratic-Republican
Vice-Presidential nomination on the grounds of age and health. He
enjoyed retirement for another 7 years before he died at the age of 78.
His grave is at Old North Cemetery in Portsmouth.
Drawing: Pastel (ca. 1795-1800) attributed to James
Sharples, Sr. Independence Nation al Historical Park.
http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/constitution/bio23.htm
Last Updated: 29-Jul-2004
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