Representative Chauncey Langdon

Chauncey Langdon (November 8, 1763 – July 23, 1830) was an American politician, lawyer, and judge who served as a United States Representative from Vermont. A member of the Federalist Party, he held a variety of legal and legislative offices at the local, state, and national levels during the early decades of the American republic, contributing to the legislative process during one term in Congress and representing the interests of his Vermont constituents.

Langdon was born on November 8, 1763, in Farmington, in the Connecticut Colony, to Ebenezer Langdon and Katherine (Green) Langdon. Raised in New England during the final years of colonial rule and the American Revolution, he pursued classical studies in preparation for a professional career. He entered Yale College, where he became a member of the literary and debating society Brothers in Unity, and graduated in 1787. Seeking legal training, he then studied at the Litchfield Law School, one of the earliest formal law schools in the United States, and read law under Judge Sylvester Gilbert of Hebron, Connecticut. After completing his studies and being admitted to the bar, he moved north to Vermont to begin his legal career.

Langdon established his law practice in Castleton, Vermont, and later practiced law in Windsor before returning again to Castleton. He quickly became active in public affairs and aligned himself with the Federalist Party, which advocated a strong national government and commercial development in the early republic. In addition to his legal work, he became involved in local judicial administration. He served as the Rutland County Register of Probate from 1792 to 1794, again in 1796, and once more in 1813, overseeing the recording of wills and estate matters. He was appointed Judge of Probate in 1798 and 1799, presiding over probate proceedings and further solidifying his reputation in Vermont’s legal community.

Langdon’s public career expanded beyond the judiciary into state government and higher education. He served on the Vermont Executive Council in 1808, participating in the advisory body that worked with the governor on statewide matters. In recognition of his standing and contributions, Middlebury College in Vermont conferred upon him an honorary degree in 1803. He later served as a trustee of Middlebury College from 1811 until his death in 1830, helping to guide the institution during its formative years. At the same time, he was repeatedly elected to the Vermont House of Representatives, serving in the state legislature in 1813, 1814, 1817, 1819, 1820, and 1822, where he took part in shaping state laws and policies during a period of growth and political realignment in Vermont.

As a member of the Federalist Party representing Vermont, Langdon contributed to the legislative process during one term in office in the United States Congress. He was elected as a Federalist to the Fourteenth Congress and served as a United States Representative from March 4, 1815, to March 3, 1817. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, in the immediate aftermath of the War of 1812, when questions of national finance, defense, and foreign relations were central to the federal agenda. In this context, he participated in the democratic process at the national level and represented the interests of his Vermont constituents. He was not a candidate for renomination to the Fifteenth Congress and returned to state and local public service after his single term.

Following his congressional service, Langdon remained active in Vermont politics and civic life. He was again elected to the Vermont Executive Council and served in that capacity from 1823 until his death in 1830, continuing to influence state governance in his later years. Beyond his governmental roles, he was also an officer of the Vermont Bible Society, reflecting his engagement with religious and moral reform efforts that were increasingly prominent in early nineteenth-century New England.

Langdon’s personal life was rooted in Castleton, where he built his family and professional base. On April 7, 1789, he married Lucy Nona Lathrop. The couple had two children: a son, Benjamin Franklin Langdon, and a daughter, Lucy Green Langdon. Their daughter later married Charles K. Williams, who became governor of Vermont, thereby linking the Langdon family to another prominent figure in the state’s political history. Langdon died in Castleton on July 23, 1830. His career as a lawyer, judge, legislator, and congressman, together with his service to educational and religious institutions, marked him as a significant figure in Vermont’s early civic and political development.