Samuel
Huntington
Born:
Scotland; July 3, 1731
Died: Norwich; January 5, 1796
Entry
by Albert E. Van Dusen
Born
into a moderately prosperous Puritan family, Samuel Huntington
undoubtedly grew up working on the family farm. A self-taught
youth, he was encouraged by the local minister, the Reverend Ebenezer
Devotion (l714-177l), whose daughter Martha he later married,
to use his library. Although nothing is known about his legal
training, he was admitted to the bar in March 1754, at first practicing
in Windham but soon moving to the larger and wealthier town of
Norwich with its more numerous economic and political opportunities.
His
law practice and reputation grew rapidly, both inside and outside
Connecticut, and bore fruit in his being elected to important
town and colony offices: the town's chief attorney; town tax collector;
town-meeting moderator: justice of the peace; and in 1773 appointment
to the superior court, the colony's highest court. In 1776 came
other great honors--election to the small upper house of the General
Assembly, having already served briefly as a deputy, and appointment
to the Council of Safety.
A
man of cautious, reticent, and conservative temperament, he nevertheless
joined the Sons of Liberty in opposition to the Stamp Act, although
he was hesitant about further strong protests. The passage of
the Coercive Acts in 1774 to protest the Boston Tea Party brought
many moderates, including Huntington, into a more active role.
Throughout the Revolution he served both in Congress and the Connecticut
upper house. On July 4, 1776, he was one of Connecticut's signers
of the Declaration of Independence. The esteem with which he was
held by Congress was evidenced by his election in September 1779
to the first of two terms as president of the Continental Congress.
While he was president in 1781, the Articles of Confederation
went into effect, thus making him the first president of the United
States. He served in this office during a dark period of severe
economic problems and terrible military defeats, including the
loss of Charleston, South Carolina.
In
1784 he was elected Connecticut's lieutenant governor, automatically
becoming chief judge of the superior court, and in 1786 he became
governor. He proved to be an extremely popular governor, winning
each election until his death in 1796, with his chief concern
being the economic and political welfare of the people. While
serving as Connecticut's chief executive, he firmly advocated
the ratification of the new Federal Constitution.
Aware
of the need to diversify Connecticut's economy, he laid the
foundations
of Connecticut's future industrial expansion by espousing development
of "useful Manufactures." The first manufacturing
company to be incorporated in the United States was a silk
manufacturing
company in Mansfield in 1789. He labored actively for improvement
of schools and roads, a more humane legal system, and fiscal
reform.
He advocated toleration of all religious sects and the abolition
of slavery. During his governorship what is now the Old State
House was authorized and built. A modest, industrious, independent-minded,
and pious man throughout his distinguished career, he exemplified
the ideal of the Puritan magistrate dedicated to the betterment
of society.
For
Further Reading
Gerlach,
Larry K. Connecticut Congressman: Samuel Huntington, 1731-1796. Hartford,
1976.
*
Entry under revision.
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