Lawrence Brainerd (March 16, 1794May 9, 1870) was an American businessman, abolitionist and

United States Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and po ...

from

Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provin ...

. A longtime anti-slavery activist, after leaving the Jacksonians in the 1830s, Brainerd was active in the Whig,

Liberty Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom. In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...

, and Free Soil parties, and was one of the organizers of the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa * Republican Party (Liberia) *Republican Party ...

when it was formed as the main anti-slavery party in the mid-1850s. Brainerd's longtime commitment to the cause of abolition was recognized in 1854, when opponents of slavery in the

Vermont General Assembly The Vermont General Assembly is the legislative body of the state of Vermont, in the United States. The Legislature is formally known as the "General Assembly," but the style of "Legislature" is commonly used, including by the body itself. The ...

chose him to fill a five-month vacancy in the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and po ...

. A native of

East Hartford, Connecticut East Hartford is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 51,045 at the 2020 census. The town is located on the east bank of the Connecticut River, directly across from Hartford, Connecticut. It is home to aero ...

, Brainerd was raised by an uncle from the age of nine, and grew up in

Troy, New York Troy is a City (New York), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and the county seat of Rensselaer County, New York, Rensselaer County. The city is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Huds ...

and

St. Albans, Vermont St. Albans, Vermont may refer to: * St. Albans (town), Vermont, established 1763, a town in Franklin County, Vermont, U.S. *St. Albans (city), Vermont, established 1902, a city in Franklin County, Vermont, U.S. See also * St. Albans Bay, Vermont, ...

. He taught school and worked as a store clerk, then began a business career of his own while still a teenager. He operated a successful store, then expanded his holdings to include a successful farm, as well as interests in banking, railroads, railroad construction, and steamships on

Lake Champlain , native_name_lang = , image = Champlainmap.svg , caption = Lake Champlain-River Richelieu watershed , image_bathymetry = , caption_bathymetry = , location = New York/ Vermont in the United States; and Quebec in Canada , coords = , type ...

. Brainerd had extensive real estate holdings in and around St. Albans, including farms where he raised horses. In 1856, he was chosen to serve as president of the Vermont Agricultural Society. Brainerd became involved in the Congregational church at a young age and was a prominent advocate of temperance. Brainerd became active in politics first as a Jacksonian, and he represented St. Albans in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1834 to 1835. An opponent of slavery, Brainerd joined the Whigs, but became dissatisfied with the party's attempts to chart a middle ground on the issue, and became an adherent of the abolitionist Liberty Party, and later the Free Soil Party. Brainerd was the unsuccessful Liberty Party candidate for governor of Vermont in 1846, 1847, 1848, 1852, and 1854, but his candidacies served to increase awareness of the abolitionist position on slavery. In October 1854, Brainerd's years of advocacy in the cause of anti-slavery were recognized when anti-slavery Whigs, Liberty Party members, and Free Soil Party members in the

combined to elect Brainerd to fill a short term vacancy in the

. He served until March 1854, and was succeeded by Jacob Collamer. In 1855, Brainerd was one of the organizers of the new

when it was created as the main anti-slavery political organization. He served as the first chairman of Vermont's Republican Party, and was one of the handful of state chairmen who issued the call for the party's first national convention in 1856. Brainerd was a delegate, and called the convention to order as its temporary chairman. Brainerd died in St. Albans on May 9, 1870. He was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in St. Albans.

Early life

Brainerd was born in

on March 16, 1794, the fifth of thirteen children born to Ezra Brainerd and Mabel (Porter) Brainerd. In 1803, Brainerd went to

to reside with his uncle, Joseph S. Brainerd. In 1808, they moved to

. Brainerd was educated in Troy and St. Albans, and attended St. Albans Academy. He taught school for two years, then began a business career as a clerk in a St. Albans store. During the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It be ...

, Brainerd served as a sergeant in Colonel Luther Dixon's Regiment of Vermont Militia. During the war, the area around St. Albans and Swanton was contested, with smugglers vying to move goods to the Canadian side of the border and militia patrols attempting to interdict their activities. In addition, British and Canadian forces raided northern Vermont several times during the war, and American soldiers and Vermont militia conducted raids on the Canadian side of the border. Brainerd continued his militia membership after the war and received a commission as a

first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...

in 1st Artillery Company, 1st Regiment, 3rd Brigade. His membership in Vermont's militia continued for several years, and he was promoted to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

during his service. In 1816, Brainerd went into business as the owner of a store, and his venture proved successful. One his early efforts to expand his holdings included the purchase of 1,200 acres of swampland near

, which he drained, improved, and developed into a successful sheep farm. Brainerd continued to take part in successful business enterprises, frequently in partnership with John Smith and Smith's son

J. Gregory Smith John Gregory Smith (July 22, 1818 – November 6, 1891) was a Vermont businessman and politician. He is most notable for serving as the 28th governor of Vermont from 1863 to 1865, the last of Vermont's Civil War chief executives. Biography S ...

, including construction and operation of several railroads in Vermont and Canada that were combined to form the Central Vermont Railway. In addition, he was involved in ownership and operation of several banks, and became active in the transport of cargo on Lake Champlain as the owner and operator of several steamboats and steamships. Brainerd owned real estate throughout St. Albans, including farms where he raised horses. Because he was opposed to slavery, Brainerd used his home and other properties as hiding places for runaway slaves attempting to escape to Canada on the

Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. ...

. In 1839, a large, aggressive gray wolf attacked flocks and herds throughout Franklin County and became a cause for concern among farmers and townspeople. Brainerd, whose size, strength, and skills as an outdoorsman were the subject of local renown, successfully hunted the wolf. A monument commemorating his deed was later placed on Aldis Hill in St. Albans, near the spot where Brainerd caught up to and killed the wolf. In 1856, he was elected president of the Vermont Agricultural Society. Brainerd was an active member of the

Congregational church Congregational churches (also Congregationalist churches or Congregationalism) are Protestant churches in the Calvinist tradition practising congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its ...

and a long time advocate for the

temperance movement The temperance movement is a social movement promoting temperance or complete abstinence from consumption of alcoholic beverages. Participants in the movement typically criticize alcohol intoxication or promote teetotalism, and its leaders emph ...

. In addition, he was a longtime supporter of the American Missionary Association and served a term as its president.

Political career

Brainerd became involved in local politics and government with an appointment as deputy sheriff of

Franklin County, Vermont Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 49,946. Its county seat is the city of St. Albans. It borders the Canadian province of Quebec. The county was created in 1792 and organ ...

. In 1834 he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives as a Jacksonian, and he served from 1834 to 1835. Brainerd became increasingly opposed to slavery, and left the Jacksonians for the Whigs. Brainerd's anti-slavery views caused him to leave the Whigs in 1840 out of dissatisfaction with the party's attempts to find a compromise position on the slavery issue. He joined the new Liberty Party, then the Free Soil Party, both of which opposed slavery. Brainerd was the unsuccessful Free Soil candidate for governor of Vermont in 1846, 1847, 1852, 1853, and 1854.

United States Senator

In September 1854, Brainerd narrowly lost the election for a seat in the Vermont Senate in which he ran as the nominee of the Free Soil Party. In October, he was chosen by the

to fill a

vacancy, which had occurred when Senator William Upham died in January 1853. The

failed to choose a successor after Upham's death, so in December 1853 the governor appointed former Senator

Samuel S. Phelps Samuel Shethar Phelps (May 13, 1793March 25, 1855) was an American lawyer and politician. He was a United States senator from Vermont, and a member of the Whig Party. Biography Phelps was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, to John Phelps (1756� ...

to fill the vacancy. Phelps served until the U.S. Senate resolved in March 1854 that he was not entitled to his seat, reasoning that while the governor could make an appointment while the state legislature was not in session, it fell to the legislature to make a selection if it was in session. When the new legislative session began in October 1854, anti-slavery members of the legislature honored Brainerd's years of commitment to their cause by choosing him to succeed Phelps. Brainerd was not a candidate for election to a full term, and served from October 14, 1854, to March 3, 1855. Brainerd took part in one session of Congress from December 1854 to March 1855, and was a member of the Committee on Claims. He was succeeded by Jacob Collamer and returned to his banking and business interests.

Later life

In 1855, Brainerd was one of the organizers of the new

, which was founded as the country's main anti-slavery political organization. He served as the first chairman of the Vermont Republican Party, and was one of five state party chairmen who issued the call for the first Republican National Convention in 1856. Brainerd was a delegate, and as the temporary chairman he called the convention to order for its first session. Brainerd was subsequently chosen to serve as one of the convention's vice chairmen, and was appointed as a member of the

Republican National Committee The Republican National Committee (RNC) is a U.S. political committee that assists the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican brand and political platform, as well as assisting in ...

. Brainerd was chosen as one of Vermont's presidential electors after the 1856 election. When Vermont's electors met in December to cast their ballots, Brainerd was chosen as their chairman. They all voted for the Republican ticket of

John C. Frémont John Charles Frémont or Fremont (January 21, 1813July 13, 1890) was an American explorer, military officer, and politician. He was a U.S. Senator from California and was the first Republican nominee for president of the United States in 1856 ...

for president and

William L. Dayton William Lewis Dayton (February 17, 1807 – December 1, 1864) was an American politician, active first in the Whig Party and later in the Republican Party. In the 1856 presidential election, he became the first Republican vice-presidentia ...

for vice president, who carried Vermont but lost the election. Brainerd was the chairman of Vermont's delegation to the

1860 Republican National Convention The 1860 Republican National Convention was a presidential nominating convention that met May 16-18 in Chicago, Illinois. It was held to nominate the Republican Party's candidates for president and vice president in the 1860 election. The conve ...

. On the first ballot, Vermont's delegates supported Jacob Collamer as a

favorite son Favorite son (or favorite daughter) is a political term. * At the quadrennial American national political party conventions, a state delegation sometimes nominates a candidate from the state, or less often from the state's region, who is not a ...

. Afterwards, Brainerd and the Vermont delegation supported

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation throu ...

, who received the nomination on the third ballot. In 1864, Brainerd was succeeded on the Republican National Committee by Abraham B. Gardner.

Death and burial

Brainerd remained active in his business ventures until his death in St. Albans on May 9, 1870. He was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in St. Albans.

Family

In 1819, Brainerd married Fidelia B. Gadcomb. She was the stepdaughter of Asa Aldis and granddaughter of Daniel Owen. The Brainerds were the parents of 12 children: * Ann Eliza (1819-1905) * Laura Aldis (1821-1821) * Lawrence H. (1822-1904) * Aldis Owen (1824-1906) * Fidelia Gadcomb (1825-1827) * Frederic Porter (1827-1828) * William Gadcomb (1829-1830) * Erastus Porter (1830-1907) * Edward Gadcomb (1833-1835) * Charles Herbert (1835-1837) * Herbert (1837-1900) * Miranda Aldis (1841-1909) Daughter Ann Eliza Brainerd Smith was a noted author and the wife of Vermont Governor

. Daughter Miranda became the wife of F. Stewart Stranahan. During the Civil War, Herbert Brainerd served as quartermaster of the

1st Vermont Cavalry The 1st Vermont Cavalry Regiment was a three years' cavalry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater from November 1861 to August 1865, in the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. History The r ...

Regiment.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Brainerd, Lawrence 1794 births 1870 deaths People from East Hartford, Connecticut American people of English descent American Congregationalists Vermont Jacksonians Vermont Whigs Vermont Libertyites Vermont Free Soilers Free Soil Party United States senators from Vermont Vermont Republicans Members of the Vermont House of Representatives Underground Railroad people People from St. Albans, Vermont Politicians from Troy, New York Activists from New York (state) American bankers 19th-century American railroad executives Congregationalist abolitionists