Samuel Huntington (statesman)

Samuel Huntington (. * 5 Julijul / July 16 1731greg in Windham, Connecticut, . † January 5, 1796 in Norwich, Connecticut ) was a lawyer, politician, leader of the American Revolution in Connecticut and is a signatory of the Declaration of Independence of the United States one of the founding fathers of the United States.

Private life

Huntington was the fourth of eleven children and the oldest boy of Nathaniel and Mehetabel Huntington. He received a limited education at the public school and was then taught himself. As Huntington was 16 years old, he was placed in a Fassbinder in the teaching, helped his father, however, continue on the farm. His education he acquired in the library of Rev. Ebenezer Devotion and loaned out by local lawyers books.

1758 Huntington was admitted as a lawyer and moved to Norwich, where he began to practice. 1761, he married Martha Devotion, Rev. Ebenezer Devotion daughter. They remained together until her death in 1794. Because the couple could not have children, they adopted after the death of her brother Pastor Joseph Huntington, his son and daughter and treated Samuel H. Huntington and Frances Huntington soon as their own children.

Political career

After a brief service as an alderman in 1764 Huntington began in earnest his political career, as Norwich sent him as one of its representatives in the Parliament of Connecticut. He was elected to 1774 every year. Because of its experience and its role in Parliament Governor Thomas Fitch in 1765 appointed him to the attorney for the crown of the colony. Also this post he held until 1774th This year he was appointed Governor Jonathan Trumbull sr. in the Supreme Court of the colony. This position took a seat on the Board of Governors by itself, which served as the upper legislative house of parliament. Huntington held that office continuously until 1778 and last year was chief judge.

Huntington was an outspoken critic of the Intolerable Acts of the British Parliament. Therefore, the Parliament elected him in October 1775 one of its delegates to the Continental Congress. In January 1776, he took his place along with Roger Sherman and Oliver Wolcott as a delegation from Connecticut in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) a. He agreed to support the Declaration of Independence and signed it later.

Articles of Confederation

Huntington returned every year until 1781 in the Congress back. Therefore, he was also one of the members who signed the Articles of Confederation, when Congress she assumed in 1777. For several years he assisted in silence the independence movement, said he had the greatest influence in pushing the states and their legislatures to necessary convocations, supplies and money to fight the American Revolutionary War can.

He was not known for great education and brilliant speeches, but his continuous hard work and reliable calm manner earned him the respect of his fellow delegates. That's why he was when John Jay left the Congress to be ambassador to Spain, was appointed on September 28, 1779 as President of the Continental Congress. His steady hand helped the Congress together, as the nascent nation after the excitement suffered military setbacks on their victory at the Battle of Saratoga. As the situation became increasingly desperate, he increased his efforts with letters and contacts to bring the States to complete the ratification of the articles that were on the table for years.

During this time, he became the commander in chief. Apart from Maryland every state had ratified the Articles of Confederation. Maryland's main objection was disputed lands in Ohio. Huntington convinced the legislatures of New York, Virginia and Connecticut to assign its rights to the National Congress. After Maryland gave in, did it after them, and ratified the Articles on March 1, 1781.

The article limited the appointment of the President for one year, but the Congress decided that the term did not count before the effective date of the articles. So Huntington remained until July 6, 1781 President of the United States in Congress assembled in office when his poor health forced him to resign and return to Connecticut. 1782 appointed to Connecticut again for delegates, but his health and legal obligations prevented him from accepting the office. He returned in 1783 for a year as a delegate to Congress back to the success of the independence movement by the Peace of Paris embodies to see.

Governor of Connecticut

In 1785 he was elected to the side of Matthew Griswold for Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut. 1786, he was followed by Griswold as governor. He was confirmed each year in office until his death in 1796. 1786, he also acted in repetition from his efforts in Congress, the Treaty of Hartford, disputes over land in the west between New York and Massachusetts beilegte. The following year, he supported the North West law, which completed the national solution to these issues.

In 1788 he sat in front of the Connecticut Convention, which had been convened to ratify the United States Constitution. Later he saw the conversion of Connecticut in one of the United States. He solved the problem of a constant capital with Hartford and oversaw the establishment of the Parliament building. He died in office in his home in Norwich.

Later events

Huntington County, Indiana is named in his honor. His birthplace, his father had Nathaniel Huntington built around 1732, still stands today. The site is now within the city limits of Scotland. In 1994 the house and part of the property of a local historic Trust were acquired. It has been restored and is open to the public.

His nephew and adopted son Samuel H. Huntington moved into the newly formed Ohio and was the third governor. His cousin Jedidiah Huntington was the son of Jonathan Trumbull senior.

Huntington Mills is a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania, which is also named in honor Samuel Huntington.