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Carlos Coolidge

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Carlos Coolidge
19thGovernor of Vermont
In office
October 1, 1848 – October 11, 1850
LieutenantRobert Pierpoint
Preceded byHorace Eaton
Succeeded byCharles K. Williams
Member of theVermont Senate
In office
1853–1857
Member of theVermont House of Representatives
In office
1834–1837
1839–1842
Personal details
Born(1792-06-25)June 25, 1792
Windsor, Vermont
DiedAugust 15, 1866(1866-08-15)(aged 74)
Windsor, Vermont
Political partyWhig
SpouseHarriet Bingham Coolidge
ChildrenMary Coolidge, Harriet Coolidge
Professionlawyer / politician
Signature

Carlos Coolidge(June 25, 1792 – August 15, 1866) was an AmericanWhigpolitician, a lawyer, aVermont state representative,theSpeaker of the Vermont House,astate senator,and the 19thgovernor of Vermont.

Biography

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Coolidge was born inWindsor, Vermont,in 1792. He attended the schools of Windsor, and studied with Reverend James Converse ofWeathersfieldin preparation for attending college. He began studies atDartmouth College,transferred toMiddlebury Collegein 1809, and graduated with honors in 1811. He studied law with Peter Starr ofMiddlebury,and then withJonathan H. Hubbardof Windsor, attained admission to the bar, and began a practice in Windsor in 1814. Coolidge was active well into his old age, and practiced for more than fifty years.[1]On September 22, 1817, Coolidge married Harriet Bingham and the couple had two daughters, Mary and Harriet.[1]Mary Coolidge (1818–1875) was the wife of Reverend Franklin Butler (1814–1880).[2]Harriet (1826–1831) died at the age of 5.

Career

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In 1816, Coolidge was commissioned as acaptainin theVermont Militia,and assigned to 1st Regiment, 4th Division.[3]He remained in the militia for several years, and advanced tocoloneland commander of the regiment.[4]

Coolidge was one of the first members of the state Board of Bank Commissioners. He was electedState's AttorneyforWindsor Countyand served from 1831 until 1836.[5]He was a Representative in the Vermont House from 1834 to 1837, and served as Speaker from 1836 to 1837. He served in the House again from 1839 to 1842, and was again Speaker of the House. In 1835 he received an honorary Master of Arts degree from theUniversity of Vermont.[6]

Coolidge was one of Vermont's presidential electorsin 1844,and cast his ballot forHenry ClayandTheodore Frelinghuysen.He served as President of theVermontWhig Convention in 1847, which passed resolutions opposing theMexican–American Warand the acquisition of territory by conquest, and in favor of theWilmot Proviso.Coolidge's anti-slavery views also included the idea of returning freed slaves toAfricaas settlers, and he was active in both theAmerican Colonization Societyand the Vermont Colonization Society.[7]

Coolidge served two terms asGovernor of Vermontfrom October 1, 1848, to October 11, 1850. During his tenure, aSupreme CourtandCircuit CourtSystem was established. He received an honoraryLL.D. degreefromMiddlebury Collegein 1849.[1]

After serving as Governor Coolidge returned to his law practice in Windsor. He became aRepublicanwhen the party was founded in the 1850s, and served in the Vermont State Senate from 1853 to 1857,[8]after which he again returned to his law practice.

Death

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Coolidge died inWindsor, Vermont,on August 15, 1866, and is interred in Windsor's Old South Church Cemetery.[9]He was a distant relative ofCalvin Coolidge.[10]

References

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  1. ^abcCarlos Coolidge.History of Windsor County, Vermont. 1891. p.900.RetrievedNovember 1,2012.Carlos Coolidge.
  2. ^Butler, Walter Percy; Wilkinson, Kathryn Morris (1966).Descendants of Richard Butler of Hartford, Connecticut.Madison, WI: Wisconsin Historical Society. p. vii.
  3. ^"Carlos Coolidge Commission".bennington.pastperfectonline.com/.Bennington, Vermont: Bennington Museum. August 16, 2016.
  4. ^Walton's Vermont Register and Farmer's Almanack for 1823.Montpelier, VT: E. P. Walton. 1822. p. 96.
  5. ^"Carlos Coolidge".National Governors Association.RetrievedNovember 1,2012.
  6. ^University of Vermont,Annual Catalogue,1890, page 110
  7. ^"Death of Hon. Carlos Coolidge".The African Repository.Washington, DC: American Colonization Society: 317–318. October 1, 1866.
  8. ^"Carlos Coolidge".The Political Graveyard.RetrievedNovember 1,2012.
  9. ^"Old South Church Cemetery, Windsor".Vermont Old Cemetery Association.RetrievedNovember 13,2017.
  10. ^Doyle, Bill."In 1846, Vermont had 2,750 School Districts!".Vermont World.Archived fromthe originalon September 29, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 22,2021.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Whignominee forGovernor of Vermont
1848,1849
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
1836–1837
Succeeded by
Preceded by Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
1839–1842
Succeeded by
Preceded by President pro tempore of the Vermont State Senate
1853-1854
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Vermont
1848–1850
Succeeded by