Governor Martin Chittenden

MARTIN CHITTENDEN was born in Salisbury, Connecticut and at the age of five moved with his family to Vermont, where his father later became the state’s first governor. The younger Chittenden graduated from Dartmouth College in 1789 and then engaged in agriculture and mercantile pursuits. He also served in the Vermont Militia, rising to the rank of Major-General. Prior to becoming governor, he held numerous public offices, including: Vermont state representative, delegate to the state convention ratifying the federal Constitution, aide-de-camp to a lieutenant governor, clerk of the Chittenden County Court, Judge of the Chittenden County Court, and member of Congress. He was elected governor by the state legislature in 1813 and again in 1814 after no candidate succeeded in winning a majority of the popular vote. The last Federalist to serve as governor of Vermont, Chittenden condemned the War of 1812. During his gubernatorial administration, he advocated agricultural development and domestic manufacturing. After leaving office, he retired from public life but for brief service as Judge of Probate. He died in Williston, Vermont.