Winthrop Sargent

Winthrop Sargent ( born May 1, 1753 Gloucester, Massachusetts, † June 3, 1820 in Natchez, Mississippi ) was an American politician and from 1798 to 1801 governor of the Mississippi Territory.

Early years and career

Winthrop Sargent visited yet during the colonial period, Harvard University. In 1771 he became captain of a merchant ship, which belonged to his father. During the Revolutionary War, he rose from lieutenant to Brevetmajor and participated in numerous battles. In 1786 he was a surveyor and co-founder of the Ohio Company of Associates. Thereafter he was appointed as First Secretary in the Northwest Territory deputy of Territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair. This office he held from 1788-1798. He was wounded in 1791 in a war with the Indians. In 1796 he announced as acting governor the founding of Wayne County, the first county government in the later state of Michigan. Winthrop Sargent was a member of the Federalist Party of Alexander Hamilton.

Governor in the Mississippi Territory

In 1798, Sargent was appointed by President John Adams for the first Territorial Governor in the Mississippi Territory. This office he held between May 7, 1798 May 25, 1801. After the loss of power of his party and the election of Thomas Jefferson as U.S. president Sargent was dismissed by this and replaced by William Charles Cole Claiborne.

Further CV

After the end of his governorship was Sargent planter in Natchez. Since 1789, he was with Roewena Tupper, daughter of General Benjamin Tupper, married. Winthrop Sargent died on June 3, 1820 on board a ship near Natchez.