Gov John LANGDON

Other Events and Attributes:

• Record Change: 05 May 2001

Notes:

"The Hall Genealogy" of Exeter, New Hampshire:
John, b. 1740, was the most noted. He entered early upon a sea-faring life, but was driven from it by the revolutionary troubles, when he immediately took decidedly American grounds. In Dec. 13, 1774, he was engaged in the removal of stores from the fort at Newcastle. In 1775 and 1776, he was a delegate to the general congress; he took command of an independent company of cadets and was present at Burgoin's surrender. He served in Rhode Island with a detachment of his company, and was present when Gen. Sullivan brought off the American troops. he was member and speaker of the N.H. House of Representatives in 1776 and '77; was judge of Court of Common Pleas in 1776, but resigned the next year; in 1778, was agent under Congress for building ships of war, and was continental agent for New Hampshire. In 1779, he was president of N.H. convention for regulating the currency; and from 1777 to 1782 was speaker of the N.H. House of Representatives. In 1780, he was a commissioner to raise men and procure provisions for the army; in June 13, 1783, he was again elected delegate to Congress; in 1784 and 5, he was member of N.H. Senate, and in the later year its president; in 1788, he was delegate to the convention which framed the constitution of the United States. I March 1788, he was elected representative in N.H. Legislature and speaker of the house; but took the office of governor to which he simultaneously chosen; in Nov., 1788, he was elected a member of the senate of the United States, and became the first presiding officer of that body. He was re=elected senator in 1794; later in life he was nominated for vice-president of the United States; but declined on account of advanced age; from 1801 to 1805, he was representative in N.H. Legislature; in 1804 and 5, was speaker; and from 1805 to 1810 and 1810 to 1811, was governor of New Hampshire; the degree of L.L.D., was given him by Dartmouth College in 1805. He died at Portsmouth, Sept. 18, 1819. Of his patriotism the following speaks emphatically: "In one of the darkest periods of the revolution, when our means were small, the Provincial legislature was in session in Exeter, the resources of the country were at the lowest ebb, despair was on every mind when John Langdon arose in that assembly and made this remarkable speech: I have two thousand dollars in specie, I will pledge my plate for as much more, I have eighty hogsheads of Tobago rum which will be sold for the service of the State. The country shall have it all, if we succeed in establishing our liberty I shall be repaid; if not property is of no value, such a proposition reanimated every one; called hope back to all, and the governor said: "We can now raise a New Hampshire regiment, and my friend John Stark can command it." The regiment was raised and bought the battle of Bennington. This success was the turning point which resulted in gaining our liberty."

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: 174
• Birth: 28 May 1707, Portsmouth, NH
• Record Change: 02 Aug 2000

John married Mary HALL about 1737 in New Hampshire. Mary (daughter of Josiah HALL and Mary WOODBURY) was born in 1717 in Exeter, New Hampshire; died on 11 Apr 1789. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It is possible that Mary might be the daughter of Josiah's 2nd wife Hannah....