People of the Revolutionary War | The Founding Fathers - An Overview | John Langdon
John Langdon (1741-1819) - New Hampshire
Image: Courtesy of Independence National Historical Park
Langdon was born in 1741 at or near Portsmouth, NH. His father, whose family
had emigrated to America before 1660, was a prosperous farmer who
sired a large family. The youth's education was intermittent. He
attended a local grammar school, worked as an apprentice clerk, and
spent some time at sea. Eventually he went into the mercantile
business for himself and prospered.
Langdon, a vigorous supporter of the
Revolution, sat on the New Hampshire committee of correspondence and a
nonimportation committee. He also attended various patriot assemblies.
In 1774 he participated in the seizure and confiscation of British
munitions from the Portsmouth fort.
The next year, Langdon served as speaker of
the New Hampshire assembly and also sat in the Continental
Congress (1775-76). During the latter year, he accepted a
colonelcy in the militia of his state and became its agent for British
prizes on behalf of the Continental Congress, a post he held
throughout the war. In addition, he built privateers for operations
against the British--a lucrative occupation.
Langdon also actively took part in the land
war. In 1777 he organized and paid for Gen. John Stark's expedition
from New Hampshire against British
Gen. John Burgoyne and was present in command of a militia unit at
Saratoga, NY, when the latter surrendered. Langdon later led a
detachment of troops during the Rhode Island campaign, but found his
major outlet in politics. He was speaker of the New Hampshire
legislature from 1777 to 1781. In 1777, meantime, he had married
Elizabeth Sherburne, who was to give birth to one daughter.
In 1783 Langdon was elected to the
Continental Congress; the next year, to the state senate; and the
following year, as president, or chief executive, of New Hampshire. In
1784 he built a home at Portsmouth. In 1786-87 he was back again as
speaker of the legislature and during the latter year for the third
time in the Continental Congress.
Langdon was forced to pay his own expenses
and those of Nicholas Gilman to the Constitutional
Convention because New Hampshire was unable or unwilling to pay
them. The pair did not arrive at Philadelphia until late July, by
which time much business had already been consummated. Thereafter,
Langdon made a significant mark. He spoke more than 20 times during
the debates and was a member of the committee that struck a compromise
on the issue of slavery. For the most part, his sympathies lay on the
side of strengthening the national government. In 1788, once again as
state president (1788-89), he took part in the ratifying convention.
From 1789 to 1801 Langdon sat in the U.S.
Senate, including service as the first President pro tem for several
sessions. During these years, his political affiliations changed. As a
supporter of a strong central government, he had been a member of the
Federalist Party, but by the time of Jay's
Treaty (1794) he was opposing its policies. By 1801 he was firmly
backing the Democratic-Republicans.
That year, Langdon declined Jefferson's offer
of the Secretaryship of the Navy. Between then and 1812, he kept
active in New Hampshire politics. He sat again in the legislature
(1801-5), twice holding the position of speaker. After several
unsuccessful attempts, in 1805 he was elected as governor and
continued in that post until 1811 except for a year's hiatus in 1809.
Meanwhile, in 1805, Dartmouth College had awarded him an honorary
doctor of laws degree.
In 1812 Langdon refused the
Democratic-Republican Vice-Presidential nomination on the grounds of
age and health. He enjoyed retirement for another 7 years before he
died at the age of 78. His grave is at Old North Cemetery in
Portsmouth.
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