William A. Palmer

Not to be confused withWillard A. Palmer.

William Adams Palmer
13thGovernor of Vermont
In office October 18, 1831 – November 2, 1835
Lieutenant	Lebbeus Egerton
Preceded by	Samuel C. Crafts
Succeeded by	Silas H. Jennison
United States Senator fromVermont
In office October 20, 1818 – March 3, 1825
Preceded by	James Fisk
Succeeded by	Dudley Chase
Member of theVermont House of Representatives
In office 1811-1812
Personal details
Born	(1781-09-12)September 12, 1781 Hebron, Connecticut
Died	December 3, 1860(1860-12-03)(aged 79) Danville, Vermont
Resting place	Danville Green Cemetery, Danville, Vermont
Political party	Democratic-Republican National Republican Anti-Masonic Democratic
Spouse	Sarah Chandler Blanchard (m. 1813-1853, her death)
Relations	Augustine Clarke(brother-in-law)
Children	7
Profession	Attorney

William Adams Palmer(September 12, 1781 – December 3, 1860) was an American lawyer and politician. A prominent of theAnti-Masonic Partyin the 1830s, he was most notable for his service as aUnited States SenatorfromVermont(1818–1825) and the 13thgovernor of Vermont(1831–1835).

A native ofHebron, Connecticut,Palmer studied law in Hebron before moving toChelsea, Vermont,where he completed his studies and attained admission to the bar in 1805. He resided in several Vermont towns and attempted to establish a law practice before settling onDanville.

Palmer became active in politics as aDemocratic-Republicanand served in offices including probate judge ofCaledonia County(1807-1808, 1811-1817) and member of theVermont House of Representatives(1811-1812, 1818). From 1816 to 1818, he served as an associate justice of theVermont Supreme Court.

In 1818, Palmer was elected to theUnited States Senate.He served until 1825, and during his term the Democratic-Republicans began to split into adherents of John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay, known as theNational Republican PartyandAndrew Jackson,knows as theDemocratic Party.Palmer became affiliated with the National Republicans.

In 1829, Palmer was an organizer of America's first third party, the Anti-Masonic Party. The Anti-Masons opposed secret societies, especiallyMasons,who they argued controlled several institutions including the government in defiance of democratic principles. The Anti-Masonic movement was especially strong in Vermont, and in 1831, Palmer was elected governor. He was reelected each year through 1834, and served from October 1831 to October 1835.

After leaving the governorship, Palmer farmed and practiced law in Danville. He served in theVermont Senatefrom 1836 to 1837. Palmer died in Danville on December 3, 1860, and was buried at Danville Green Cemetery in Danville.

Biography

Palmer was born inHebron, Connecticut,on September 12, 1781, the son of Stephen Palmer and Susannah (Sawyer) Palmer.He was a descendant ofWalter Palmer,a founder ofCharlestown, Massachusetts,andNew London, Connecticut.During childhood, he lost part of one hand in an accident when he slipped and fell on ice while carrying an axe. He completed his elementary education in Hebron,studiedlaw in Hebron with John Thompson Peters, later a justice of theConnecticut Supreme Court,and then withDaniel BuckinChelsea, Vermont.Palmer wasadmitted to the barin 1805 and practiced inBrownington,Derby,andSt. Johnsburybefore settling inDanville.

Career

Palmer was electedProbate JudgeforCaledonia Countyfrom 1807 to 1808, and from 1811 to 1817. He was clerk of the county court from 1807 to 1815, and a member of theVermont House of Representativesfrom 1811 to 1812 and again in 1818. He was a judge of theVermont Supreme Courtfrom 1816 to 1818, and was succeeded byWilliam Brayton.In 1817 Palmer received thehonorary degreeofMaster of Artsfrom theUniversity of Vermont.

In 1818, Palmer was elected to theUnited States Senateto fill the vacancy caused by the resignation ofJames Fisk;was re-elected and served from October 20, 1818, until March 3, 1825; first as aDemocratic-Republicanand from 1823 as aNational Republican.He then returned to the state House of Representatives and to the position of judge.He was also a delegate to the Vermont State Constitutional conventions in 1828, 1836, and 1850.

Palmer organized the first convention ofVermont'sAnti-Masonic PartyinMontpelierin 1829. He was electedGovernor of Vermontin 1831 on theAnti-Masonicticket and stayed in office until 1835. He proposed the 1833 law that any person administering a secret oath in any organization such as theMasonswould be fined, and advocated the 1834 law to suspend the charter of Vermont'sGrand Lodge.During his tenure, imprisonment of females for debt was abolished, fourteen new schools were established, seven new banks were chartered, and legislation was enacted to expand the railway system.

Palmer retired to his farm, but continued to be politically active. As aDemocrat,he was elected to theVermont Senatein 1836 and he served from 1836 to 1837.

Death

Palmer died in Danville on December 3, 1860.He was buried at Danville Green Cemetery in Danville.

Family

In 1813, Palmer married Sarah Chandler Blanchard of Danville.They were the parents of seven children.Five survived to adulthood, including William B., Abial C., Henry W., Frank R., and Edward.

External links

• Vermont State Archives
• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• National Governors Association
• The Political Graveyard
• William A. PalmeratFind a Grave