Carlos Coolidge, Governor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Coolidge

Carlos Coolidge (June 25, 1792 – August 15, 1866) was an American Whig politician, a lawyer, a Vermont State Representative, the Speaker of the Vermont House, a State Senator, and the nineteenth Governor of Vermont.

Biography

Coolidge was born in Windsor, Vermont in 1792, graduated from Middlebury College with honors in 1811, and began reading law with the Hon. Peter Starr of Middlebury, and then with the Hon. Jonathan H. Hubbard of Windsor in preparation for admission to the bar. He began his practice in Windsor in 1814 and continued for more than fifty years.[1] On September 22, 1817, Coolidge married Harriet Bingham and the couple had two daughters, Mary and Harriet.

Career

Coolidge was one of the first members of the state Board of Bank Commissioners. He was elected State's Attorney for Windsor County and served from 1831 until 1836. 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 the University of Vermont.

Coolidge was a presidential elector for Vermont in 1844, and cast his ballot for Henry Clay. He served as President of the Vermont Whig Convention in 1847, which passed resolutions opposing the Mexican-American War and the acquisition of territory by conquest, and in favor of the Wilmot Proviso.

Coolidge served two terms as Governor of Vermont from October 1, 1848, to October 11, 1850. During his tenure, a Supreme Court and Circuit Court System was established. He received an honorary LL.D. degree from Middlebury College in 1849.

After serving as Governor Coolidge returned to his law practice in Windsor. He became a Republican when the party was founded in the 1850s, and served in the Vermont State Senate from 1855 to 1857; and again returned to his practice.

Death

Coolidge died in Windsor, Vermont on August 15, 1866, and in interred in Windsor's Old South Church Cemetery. He was a distant relative of Calvin Coolidge.

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