Benjamin Pierce (governor)
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Pierce was an American
Democratic-Republican politician. He served as Governor of New Hampshire from 1827 to 1828 and from 1829 to 1830.
, the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Merrill) Pierce as well as a direct descendant of Thomas Pierce
(1623–1683) http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp who was born in Norwich
, Norfolk, England and settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
. Benjamin Pierce was a distinguished veteran of the Revolutionary War
, serving at first in the 16th Continental Regiment and later in the 8th Massachusetts Regiment
. He was promoted to Ensign
in the 1st Massachusetts Regiment
for bravery at Saratoga
. He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati
. Following the war, he moved to Hillsborough, New Hampshire
, and was assigned the task of forming the Hillsborough County
militia. In 1805, he was promoted to Brigadier General
and assigned command of the New Hampshire state militia
. Prior to becoming governor, he served in the New Hampshire state legislature from 1789 to 1802 and twice as Sheriff
of Hillsborough County, from 1809 to 1812 and later from 1818 to 1827. He was a delegate to the state Constitutional Convention in September 1791 and a member of the Governor's Council
from 1803 to 1809 and again in 1814.
On May 24, 1787, he married Elizabeth Andrews. Their daughter Elizabeth Pierce was born August 9, 1788 but Elizabeth died of complications on August 13. He married Anna Kendrick (born October 30, 1769) on February 1, 1790 at Amherst, New Hampshire
. Together they had eight children:
They were married until her death on December 7, 1838. He died a year later in Hillsborough, and is buried in the town's Pine Hill Cemetery.
Benjamin Pierce was an original member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati
. His eldest son, Benjamin Kendrick Pierce, succeeded him in 1841. He was then succeeded by his younger brother, future president Franklin Pierce
in 1852, and was later succeeded by Benjamin's youngest son, Henry Dearborn Pierce in 1873.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic-Republican politician. He served as Governor of New Hampshire from 1827 to 1828 and from 1829 to 1830.
Biography
He was born in Chelmsford, MassachusettsChelmsford, Massachusetts
Chelmsford is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts in the Greater Boston area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 33,802. The Census Bureau's 2008 population estimate for the town was 34,409, ranking it 14th in population among the 54 municipalities in...
, the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Merrill) Pierce as well as a direct descendant of Thomas Pierce
Thomas Pierce
Thomas Pierce or Peirse was an English churchman and controversialist, a high-handed President of Magdalen College, Oxford and Dean of Salisbury.-Early life:...
(1623–1683) http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp who was born in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, Norfolk, England and settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
. Benjamin Pierce was a distinguished veteran of the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, serving at first in the 16th Continental Regiment and later in the 8th Massachusetts Regiment
8th Massachusetts Regiment
The 8th Massachusetts Regiment also known as 16th Continental Regiment was raised on April 23, 1775 under Colonel Sargent at Cambridge, Massachusetts. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Bunker Hill, New York Campaign, Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton and the Battle of Saratoga...
. He was promoted to Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the 1st Massachusetts Regiment
1st Massachusetts Regiment
The 1st Massachusetts Regiment was authorized on 23 April 1775 in the Massachusetts State Troops as Paterson's Regiment under Colonel John Paterson and was organized at Cambridge, colony of Massachusetts during the spring of 1775 constiting of eleven companies of volunteers from Berkshire,...
for bravery at Saratoga
Saratoga campaign
The Saratoga Campaign was an attempt by Great Britain to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War...
. He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati
Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a historical organization with branches in the United States and France founded in 1783 to preserve the ideals and fellowship of the American Revolutionary War officers and to pressure the government to honor pledges it had made to officers who fought for American...
. Following the war, he moved to Hillsborough, New Hampshire
Hillsborough, New Hampshire
Hillsborough, frequently spelled Hillsboro, is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,011 at the 2010 census...
, and was assigned the task of forming the Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 380,841 people, 144,455 households, and 98,807 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 149,961 housing units at an average density of 171 per square mile...
militia. In 1805, he was promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
and assigned command of the New Hampshire state militia
New Hampshire Militia
The New Hampshire Militia was first organized in March 1680, by New Hampshire Colonial President John Cutt. The King of England authorized the Provincial President to give commissions to persons who shall be best qualified for regulating and discipline of the militia. President Cutt placed Major...
. Prior to becoming governor, he served in the New Hampshire state legislature from 1789 to 1802 and twice as Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Hillsborough County, from 1809 to 1812 and later from 1818 to 1827. He was a delegate to the state Constitutional Convention in September 1791 and a member of the Governor's Council
Executive Council of New Hampshire
The Executive Council of the State of New Hampshire is the executive body of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The Executive Council advises the Governor on all matters and provides a check on the governor's power. New Hampshire is one of the few states that has an Executive Council, and is the...
from 1803 to 1809 and again in 1814.
Family life
Benjamin Pierce's father died when he was six. He subsequently worked on his uncle's farm until enlisting in Ebenezer Bridge’s Massachusetts regiment on April 26, 1775.On May 24, 1787, he married Elizabeth Andrews. Their daughter Elizabeth Pierce was born August 9, 1788 but Elizabeth died of complications on August 13. He married Anna Kendrick (born October 30, 1769) on February 1, 1790 at Amherst, New Hampshire
Amherst, New Hampshire
Amherst is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,201 at the 2010 census. Amherst is home to Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary, Hodgman State Forest, the Joe English Reservation and Baboosic Lake....
. Together they had eight children:
- Benjamin Kendrick Pierce (August 29, 1790–1850)
- Nancy M. Pierce (November 2, 1792–1837)
- John Sullivan Pierce (November 5, 1796–1824)
- Harriet B. Pierce (1800–1837)
- Charles Grandison Pierce (1803–1828)
- Franklin PierceFranklin PierceFranklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
(November 23, 1804–1869), 14th President of the United States
- Charlotte Pierce, d. in infancy.
- Henry Dearborn Pierce (September 19, 1812–1880)
They were married until her death on December 7, 1838. He died a year later in Hillsborough, and is buried in the town's Pine Hill Cemetery.
Benjamin Pierce was an original member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati
Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a historical organization with branches in the United States and France founded in 1783 to preserve the ideals and fellowship of the American Revolutionary War officers and to pressure the government to honor pledges it had made to officers who fought for American...
. His eldest son, Benjamin Kendrick Pierce, succeeded him in 1841. He was then succeeded by his younger brother, future president Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
in 1852, and was later succeeded by Benjamin's youngest son, Henry Dearborn Pierce in 1873.