Samuel Strong | |
---|---|
Assistant Judge of Addison County, Vermont | |
In office 1813–1815 Serving with Ezra Hoyt | |
Preceded by | Samuel Shepard |
Succeeded by | Charles Rich |
In office 1805–1808 Serving with Charles Rich | |
Preceded by | Abraham Dibble |
Succeeded by | Henry Olin |
Mayor of Vergennes, Vermont | |
In office 1811–1815 | |
Preceded by | Josias Smith |
Succeeded by | Smith Booth |
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Vergennes | |
In office 1804–1806 | |
Preceded by | Amos Marsh |
Succeeded by | Thomas Byrd |
Sheriff of Addison County, Vermont | |
In office 1787–1789 | |
Preceded by | Gamaliel Painter |
Succeeded by | John Chipman |
Personal details | |
Born | Addison, Vermont, U.S. | July 17, 1762
Died | December 5, 1832 Vergennes, Vermont, U.S. | (aged 70)
Resting place | Vergennes Burying Ground, Vergennes, Vermont |
Political party | Federalist |
Spouse | Mercy Bloomer (m. 1787-1832, his death) |
Relations |
John Strong (father) Frederick E. Woodbridge (grandson) Moses M. Strong (nephew) |
Children | 5 |
Profession | Farmer Businessman |
Samuel Strong (July 17, 1762 - December 5, 1832) was an American businessman, farmer, militia officer, and politician from Vermont. He attained the rank of major general, and was most notable for his leadership of a contingent of Vermont militia soldiers during the War of 1812's Battle of Plattsburgh.
Samuel Strong was born in Salisbury, Connecticut on July 17, 1762, the son of John Strong (1738-1816) and Agnes (McCure) Strong (1740-1829). [1] His parents moved to Addison, Vermont in 1766, and were among the town's first white settlers. [1] Samuel Strong was raised and educated in Addison and became a farmer. [1] In 1787, he was elected Sheriff of Addison County, and he served a two-year term. [1]
In 1793, Strong moved to Vergennes, where he farmed and became involved in several business ventures. [2] Strong's enterprises included timberlands, a sawmill, and a wool carding factory, where he was among the first in New England to make use of mechanical carding machines rather than disentangling, cleaning, and intermixing fibers by hand. [2]
In addition to his farming and business interests, Strong was active in local politics and government. [2] He was elected to the board of aldermen soon after his move to Vergennes. [2] He represented Vergennes in the Vermont House of Representatives in 1804 and 1805. [1] From 1805 to 1807 and 1813 to 1815 he served as assistant judge of the Addison County Court. [1] From 1811 to 1815 he served as mayor of Vergennes. [2]
Strong was a longtime member of the Vermont Militia, and advanced through the ranks to earn promotion to brigadier general as commander of 1st Brigade, 3rd Division in 1797. [3] He was promoted to major general in 1804 and appointed as commander of the 3rd Division. [1] He served in this position until 1810, when he resigned. [1]
In the summer of 1814, Strong received word that volunteers were needed to counter the advance of the British Army near Plattsburgh, New York. [2] Strong immediately traveled to Burlington, Vermont, where he was unanimously chosen to take the command of the Vermonters who had volunteered. [2] During the September Battle of Plattsburgh, Strong's militia contingent took part in the successful American defense, which caused the British to retreat to Canada. [2] After the battle, Strong was commended by Governor Martin Chittenden and the Vermont General Assembly. [1]
Strong was the 1816 Federalist nominee for governor, and lost to Jonas Galusha. [4] [5] In 1818, the New York State Legislature presented Strong a commemorative sword as a token of their appreciation for his War of 1812 service. [1]
In 1816, Strong traveled to Georgia in search of a warmer climate that would enable him to regain his health, which had been impaired as the result of wartime service. [2] He remained for only a few months before deciding to return to Vergennes. [2] Strong remained active in several business ventures, including a Lake Champlain ferry from Ferrisburgh, Vermont to Essex, New York. [2] He also constructed and managed a turnpike from Middlebury to Vergennes, and from Vergennes to Adams Ferry in Panton, Vermont. [2] In 1827, he was one of the original incorporators of the Vergennes Bank, He was selected as the bank's first president, and served in this position until his death. [2]
Strong died in Vergennes on December 5, 1832. [1] He was buried at Vergennes Burying Ground in Vergennes. [6] His home, the Gen. Samuel Strong House, still stands in Vergennes and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. [7]
In 1787, Strong married Mercy Bloomer (1763-1852) of Dorset, Vermont. [1] They were the parents of five children who lived to adulthood. [1]
Strong's siblings included attorney Moses Strong (1772-1842), who was the father of Wisconsin politician Moses M. Strong. [8]