Silas Hemenway Jennison (May 17, 1791 – September 30, 1849) was an American Anti-Masonic and Whig politician who served as Vermont's 11th

lieutenant governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

and 14th

governor of Vermont The governor of Vermont is the head of government of Vermont. The officeholder is elected in even-numbered years by direct voting for a term of 2 years. Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every ...

– the first born in the state.

Biography

Jennison (Sometimes spelled Jenison) was born in

Shoreham, Vermont Shoreham is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,260 at the 2020 census. Geography Shoreham is located in western Addison County along the shore of Lake Champlain. The western boundary of the town, which follows ...

to Levi Jennison and Ruth Hemenway. He helped his mother run the farm which his father had cleared and attended the local schools sporadically and had some private tutoring. He learned surveying which he pursued throughout his political career. He married Marilla Hanks Bush on May 3, 1814 and they had five children; Lurana Sandford, Levi, Ruth, Sara Cary and Laura Louisa.

Career

Jennison was a member of the

Vermont House of Representatives The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members, with each member representing around 4,100 citizens. Representatives ar ...

from 1829 to 1835. He was an Addison County Court Judge from and a member of the State Executive Council from 1829 to 1835. He was elected the

Lieutenant Governor of Vermont The lieutenant governor of Vermont is elected for a two-year term and chosen separately from the governor. The Vermont Lieutenant Governor's main responsibilities include acting as governor when the governor is out of state or incapacitated, presi ...

in 1835. In the 1835 governor's race, no candidate received the majority required by the Vermont Constitution, so the choice fell to 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 G ...

. After 63 ballots, the legislators were unable to decide upon a winner, and opted to allow Lieutenant Governor Jennison to act as governor until the next election. He was elected to a one-year term as governor in his own right in 1836, and was reelected annually until 1840, so he served as governor from 1835 to 1841. Jennison was Vermont's first native-born Governor. In 1837, the incumbent

Vermont State Treasurer The State Treasurer's Office is responsible for several administrative and service duties, in accordance with Vermont Statutes. These include: investing state funds; issuing state bonds; serving as the central bank for state agencies; managing the ...

Augustine Clarke Augustine Clarke (c.1780 – June 17, 1841) was a Vermont attorney, banker and politician who was a leader of the Anti-Masonic Party and served as Vermont State Treasurer. Early life Details of Clarke's birth are not known for certain. His nam ...

, failed to receive the majority of votes required by the

Vermont Constitution The Constitution of the State of Vermont is the fundamental body of law of the U.S. state of Vermont, describing and framing its government. It was adopted in 1793 following Vermont's admission to the Union in 1791 and is largely based upon the ...

. In such cases, the

is empowered to elect a candidate. The legislature, split between Anti-Masons, Whigs and Democrats, failed to choose a winner. Jennison, an Anti-Mason who had run with Whig support, then appointed

Allen Wardner Allen Wardner (December 13, 1786 – August 29, 1877) was a Vermont banker, businessman and politician who served as Vermont State Treasurer, State Treasurer. He was also the Parent-in-law#Fathers-in-law, father-in-law of United States Attorney ...

, an Anti-Mason. Wardner served until 1838. Jennison declined reelection in 1841. He was appointed Addison County probate Judge, and he served until 1847. Jennison was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1843. The Addison County Agricultural Society was organized on January 22, 1844, and Jennison was the first president.

Death

Following a long illness, Jennison died in Shoreham on September 30, 1849. He is interred at Jenison Cemetery, located within the town.

References

External links

* http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/jennison-jewell.html * http://www.leg.state.vt.us/HouseClerk/History%20of%20Elected%20Officials%20Site/Lieutenant%20Governors%20List.htm * http://www.heywoods.info/j/SJennison08.html
National Governors Association
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jennison, Silas H. 1791 births 1849 deaths Governors of Vermont Anti-Masonic Party politicians from Vermont Vermont Whigs Lieutenant Governors of Vermont Members of the Vermont House of Representatives People from Shoreham, Vermont Vermont state court judges Whig Party state governors of the United States 19th-century American politicians Burials in Vermont 19th-century American judges

Biography

Career

Death

References

Further reading

External links