 Langdon
was born in 1741 at or near Portsmouth, NH. His father, whose family
had emigrated to America before 1660, was a prosperous farmer who
sired a large family. The youth's education was intermittent. He
attended a local grammar school, worked as an apprentice clerk, and
spent some time at sea. Eventually he went into the mercantile
business for himself and prospered.
Langdon, a vigorous supporter of the Revolution, sat on the New
Hampshire committee of correspondence and a nonimportation
committee. He also attended various patriot assemblies. In 1774 he
participated in the seizure and confiscation of British munitions
from the Portsmouth fort.
The next year, Langdon served as speaker of the
New Hampshire assembly and also sat in the Continental Congress
(1775-76). During the latter year, he accepted a colonelcy in the
militia of his state and became its agent for British prizes on
behalf of the Continental Congress, a post he held throughout the
war. In addition, he built privateers for operations against the
British--a lucrative occupation.
Langdon also actively took part in the land
war. In 1777 he organized and paid for Gen. John Stark's expedition
from New Hampshire against British Gen. John Burgoyne and was
present in command of a militia unit at Saratoga, NY, when the
latter surrendered. Langdon later led a detachment of troops during
the Rhode Island campaign, but found his major outlet in politics.
He was speaker of the New Hampshire legislature from 1777 to 1781.
In 1777, meantime, he had married Elizabeth Sherburne, who was to
give birth to one daughter.
In 1783 Langdon was elected to the Continental
Congress; the next year, to the state senate; and the following
year, as president, or chief executive, of New Hampshire. In 1784 he
built a home at Portsmouth. In 1786-87 he was back again as speaker
of the legislature and during the latter year for the third time in
the Continental Congress.
Langdon was forced to pay his own expenses and
those of Nicholas Gilman to the Constitutional Convention because
New Hampshire was unable or unwilling to pay them. The pair did not
arrive at Philadelphia until late July, by which time much business
had already been consummated. Thereafter, Langdon made a significant
mark. He spoke more than 20 times during the debates and was a
member of the committee that struck a compromise on the issue of
slavery. For the most part, his sympathies lay on the side of
strengthening the national government. In 1788, once again as state
president (1788-89), he took part in the ratifying convention.
From 1789 to 1801 Langdon sat in the U.S.
Senate, including service as the first President pro tem for several
sessions. During these years, his political affiliations changed. As
a supporter of a strong central government, he had been a member of
the Federalist Party, but by the time of Jay's Treaty (1794) he was
opposing its policies. By 1801 he was firmly backing the
Democratic-Republicans.
That year, Langdon declined Jefferson's offer
of the Secretaryship of the Navy. Between then and 1812, he kept
active in New Hampshire politics. He sat again in the legislature
(1801-5), twice holding the position of speaker. After several
unsuccessful attempts, in 1805 he was elected as governor and
continued in that post until 1811 except for a year's hiatus in
1809. Meanwhile, in 1805, Dartmouth College had awarded him an
honorary doctor of laws degree.
In 1812 Langdon refused the
Democratic-Republican Vice-Presidential nomination on the grounds of
age and health. He enjoyed retirement for another 7 years before he
died at the age of 78. His grave is at Old North Cemetery in
Portsmouth. |
