NEW HAMPSHIRE IN THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. 277
��its first president. Dartmouth college honored him with the degree of M. A. and M. D. One of his sons, Josiah Bartlett, jr., who was born at Kings- ton, December 16, 1768, became prominent in political life, though a physician, like his father, and beside holding other distinguished positions, was a member of the twelfth con- gress from New Hampshire, serving from 181 1 to 1813. Dr. Bartlett, sen- ior, died suddenly of paralysis at Kingston, N. H., May 19, 1795, leav- ing behind him the memory of a use- ful, a blameless and stainless life.
No New Hampshire orator deems his after-dinner speech complete till he has made some allusion to the Langdons. The most distinguished of the family was without doubt John Langdon, born at Portsmouth, June 25, 1741. His ed- ucation was received in the public schools, and in early life he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was one of the most active of the citizens of the state in the movements leading to the Revolution, and was a delegate, with Josiah Bartlett, from the colony to the second Continental Congress which met at Philadelphia, in May, 1775. He was appointed the Conti- nental Navy agent, and largely at his own expense equipped the celebrated regiment in command of which Gen- eral Stark won the battle of Benning- ton. In 1786 he was for the second time elected a member of the Con- tinental Congress, serving for more than a year. He was also for a num- ber of years a member of the state house of representatives, and was several times chosen its speaker. In 1787 he was elected a delegate to the convention which framed the Federal Constitution, and in its proceedings he took a prominent part. In [788 he was elected governor of the state, serving till he took his seat in the United States Senate, March 4, 1789, where he served till March 3, 1801. He was chosen president of that body in order that the votes for president and vice-president might be counted according to the Constitution, thus be-
��ing the first president pro ttrn. of this body, and holding this office before there were either a president or vice- president of the country. After the expiration of his second term as sen- ator, he was elected governor in 1805, serving till 1809, and was again elect- ed in 1 8 10, serving for one year. In 181 1 President Jefferson, of whom he was an ardent political adherent, of- fered him a place in his cabinet as Secretary of the Navy, but he de- clined it. For the presidential cam- paign of 181 2, he was unanimously named by the Democratic delegation in congress as a candidate for the vice-presidency, to which he might have been elected had he not declined the honor. His last years were spent at his home in Portsmouth, where he died September 18, 18 19, mourned as one of the most honored and dis- tinguished citizens of the state.
Woodbury Langdon, an older broth- er of John, was born at Portsmouth, in 1739, and like his brother, early engaged in mercantile pursuits. He served for about a year, 1 779-1 780, in the Continental Congress, rendering valuable service in the councils of the time. For three years, from 1781 to 1 784 he was a member of the state executive council. In 1782 he was appointed one of the judges of the supreme court of the state, serving but a short time however. In 1 786 he was again appointed, serving till 1790. He died at Portsmouth, January 13, 1805.
One of the most honored names in New Hampshire's early history is that of Matthew Thornton. He was born in Ireland in 1714, and came, when a mere lad, to America, living for a while at Wiscasset, Me. Remov- ing to Worcester, he received an aca- demic education, studied medicine, and began his practice in the historic town of Londonderry, N. H. In the famous expedition of Sir William Pep- perell, against Louisburg, he served as surgeon, and was afterward prominent- ly connected with the colonial militia, holding for several years a commission
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