Simon Snyder
Encyclopedia
Simon Snyder was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1808 to 1817. A Jeffersonian Democrat
, he served three terms as speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives before becoming governor. He led the state through the War of 1812
and, following the conclusion of his term, was elected to the United States Senate
, but he died in 1819 before he began to serve. He was the first governor of Pennsylvania to be of German
descent.
to Moravian parents, Anthony and Mary Elizabeth (née Knippenberg) Snyder. In 1784, Snyder moved to Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
, where he opened a gristmill. His residence still stands at 121 North Market Street. In 1790, Snyder married Elizabeth Michael. They had two children. Unfortunately for the Snyders, Elizabeth died in 1794 and left her husband to raise the children. Snyder did, however, remarry. With his second wife, Catherine Antes, he raised another five children. In total, Snyder fathered seven children.
. Snyder was elected in 1789 to serve as a delegate to help revise Pennsylvania’s state constitution in 1790. Following this, he ran served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from 1797 to 1807. During this time, he also served as the speaker of the House three times: in 1804, in 1805, and in 1807. While he was in the House, Snyder also sought the governorship as a Jeffersonian Democrat in 1805 but was defeated by governor Thomas McKean
(McKean was also a Jeffersonian Democrat, but he had was not as well liked as Snyder). Due to his lack of public attention, Snyder lost the election.
William Tilghman
and Isaac Wayne
, respectively. In 1812, Snyder also suggested relocating the capital city of the commonwealth from Lancaster to its present location in Harrisburg. The General Assembly approved this request.
wholeheartedly despite Federalist cries of dissent. With the victory at the end of the war, this criticism subsided. After the war, John Binns
supported elevating Snyder to consideration for the vice-presidential slot on President James Madison
’s ticket, but later he was disregarded as a possible candidate.
. Unfortunately, he died on 9 November 1819, before he was able to serve. His gravesite is marked by a monument topped by his bust at Sharon Lutheran Church in Selinsgrove.
, a website dedicated to Pennsylvania politics.
A residence hall at Penn State University is named in his honor.
His house at Selinsgrove, known as the Gov. Simon Snyder Mansion
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1978.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, he served three terms as speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives before becoming governor. He led the state through the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and, following the conclusion of his term, was elected to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, but he died in 1819 before he began to serve. He was the first governor of Pennsylvania to be of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
descent.
Early life
Snyder was born on 5 November 1759 in Lancaster, PennsylvaniaLancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
to Moravian parents, Anthony and Mary Elizabeth (née Knippenberg) Snyder. In 1784, Snyder moved to Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
Selinsgrove is a borough in Snyder County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1787 by Captain Anthony Selin, who fought with Washington in the Revolutionary War....
, where he opened a gristmill. His residence still stands at 121 North Market Street. In 1790, Snyder married Elizabeth Michael. They had two children. Unfortunately for the Snyders, Elizabeth died in 1794 and left her husband to raise the children. Snyder did, however, remarry. With his second wife, Catherine Antes, he raised another five children. In total, Snyder fathered seven children.
Early political career
Snyder began his political career as the Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. Snyder was elected in 1789 to serve as a delegate to help revise Pennsylvania’s state constitution in 1790. Following this, he ran served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
from 1797 to 1807. During this time, he also served as the speaker of the House three times: in 1804, in 1805, and in 1807. While he was in the House, Snyder also sought the governorship as a Jeffersonian Democrat in 1805 but was defeated by governor Thomas McKean
Thomas McKean
Thomas McKean was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the American Revolution he was a delegate to the Continental Congress where he signed the United States Declaration of Independence and the Articles of...
(McKean was also a Jeffersonian Democrat, but he had was not as well liked as Snyder). Due to his lack of public attention, Snyder lost the election.
Governorship
In 1808, the Jeffersonians united behind Snyder and he won the election. Snyder ran again in subsequent elections (in 1811 and 1814) and easily won reelection against FederalistsFederalist Party (United States)
The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...
William Tilghman
William Tilghman
William Tilghman was an American lawyer, jurist and statesman from Maryland. He served as the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court from 1805 to 1827....
and Isaac Wayne
Isaac Wayne
Isaac Wayne was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, son of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, and grandson of Isaac Wayne....
, respectively. In 1812, Snyder also suggested relocating the capital city of the commonwealth from Lancaster to its present location in Harrisburg. The General Assembly approved this request.
War of 1812
Snyder supported the War of 1812War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
wholeheartedly despite Federalist cries of dissent. With the victory at the end of the war, this criticism subsided. After the war, John Binns
John Binns
John Binns was a British Labour Party politician. He was Member of Parliament for the marginal Keighley constituency from 1964 to 1970, when it was won by Conservative Joan Hall....
supported elevating Snyder to consideration for the vice-presidential slot on President James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
’s ticket, but later he was disregarded as a possible candidate.
Post governorship
Snyder was elected in 1818 to serve in the United States SenateUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Unfortunately, he died on 9 November 1819, before he was able to serve. His gravesite is marked by a monument topped by his bust at Sharon Lutheran Church in Selinsgrove.
Legacy
Sy Snyder is now used as a pseudonym for the publishers of PoliticsPAPoliticsPA
- Content :The website focuses on news aggregation, linking to major political news making headlines across the state. The editors write occasional features, like the weekly "Up & Down" scorecard and one-off lists like "Harrisburg's Smartest Staffer" and "Best Dressed Lobbyist" lists...
, a website dedicated to Pennsylvania politics.
A residence hall at Penn State University is named in his honor.
His house at Selinsgrove, known as the Gov. Simon Snyder Mansion
Gov. Simon Snyder Mansion
Gov. Simon Snyder Mansion is a historic home located at Selinsgrove in Snyder County, Pennsylvania. It is a -story stone house built in the early 19th century. It features a gable roof and two gable end chimneys. The building suffered a fire in 1874 after which a Victorian style porch and bay...
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1978.