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Silas H Jennison

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Preceded by
  
Name
  
Silas Jennison

Succeeded by
  
Political party
  
Party
  
Whig Party

Preceded by
  
Spouse
  
Marilla Bush

Governor
  
Himself

Role
  
American Politician


Silas H. Jennison

Lieutenant
  
David M. Camp (1836 on)

Born
  
May 17, 1791Shoreham, Vermont (
1791-05-17
)

Died
  
September 30, 1849, Shoreham, Vermont, United States

Silas Hemenway Jennison (May 17, 1791 – September 30, 1849) was an American Anti-Masonic and Whig politician who served as Vermont's Lieutenant Governor and Governor — the first born in the state.

Contents

Biography

Jennison (Sometimes spelled Jenison) was born in Shoreham, Vermont to Levi Jennison and Ruth Hemenway. He helped his mother run the farm which his father had cleared and attended the local schools sporadically and had some private tutoring. He learned surveying which he pursued throughout his political career. He married Marilla Hanks Bush on May 3, 1814 and they had five children; Lurana Sandford, Levi, Ruth, Sara Cary and Laura Louisa.

Career

Jennison was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1829 to 1835. He was an Addison County Court Judge from and a member of the State Executive Council from 1829 to 1835. He was elected the ninth Lieutenant Governor of Vermont in 1835. In the 1835 Governor's race, no candidate received the majority required by the Vermont Constitution, so the choice fell to the Vermont General Assembly. After 63 ballots, the legislators were unable to decide upon a winner, and opted to allow Lieutenant Governor Jennison to act as Governor until the next election. He was elected to a one-year term as Governor in his own right in 1836, and was reelected annually until 1840, so he served as Governor from 1835 to 1841. Jennison was Vermont's first native-born Governor.

In 1837, the incumbent Vermont State Treasurer, Augustine Clarke, failed to receive the majority of votes required by the Vermont Constitution. In such cases, the Vermont General Assembly is empowered to elect a candidate. The legislature was split between Anti-Masons, Whigs and Democrats, failed to choose a winner. Jennison, an Anti-Mason who had run with Whig support, then appointed Allen Wardner, an Anti-Mason. Wardner served until 1838.

Jennison declined reelection in 1841. He was appointed Addison County probate Judge, and he served until 1847.

Jennison was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1843. The Addison County Agricultural Society was organized on January 22, 1844, and Jennison was the first president.

Death

Following a long illness, Jennison died in Shoreham on September 30, 1849. He is interred at Jenison Cemetery, located within the town.

References

Silas H. Jennison Wikipedia


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