Overview
Samuel Huntington was born in Windham, Connecticut, on July 3, 1731, and learned a trade as a cooper (barrel maker) before turning to the study of law. After self-study and training with a local attorney, he was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1758 and went on to build a career in public service. Elected to the Connecticut General Assembly in May 1765, he resigned as King’s Attorney that year because he opposed the Stamp Act. He joined the Continental Congress in 1775, signed the Declaration of Independence, and served as President of Congress from September 29, 1779, to July 6, 1781. Huntington also served as the First President of Congress under the Articles of Confederation, which he signed. He later served as Governor and supported ratification of the Constitution.
Personal Facts
- Born: July 5, 1731, in Windham, Connecticut.
- Parents: Nathaniel Huntington (father), Mehetable Thurston (mother).
- Spouse: Martha Devotion (1761).
- Died: January 5, 1796, in Norwich, Connecticut. He was 64.
- Buried: Old Norwichtown Cemetery, Norwich, Connecticut.
- Part of: Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Biography
Early Life
Samuel Huntington was born in Windham, Connecticut, on July 5, 1731. He was the son of Nathaniel Huntington and Mehetable Thurston.
- Huntington’s father worked as a farmer and clothier, and Huntington grew up helping on the farm and in the shop.
- Huntington received little formal schooling and studied Latin and law on his own.
- When he was 16, he started an apprenticeship as a cooper and completed his training.
- In 1758, Huntington was admitted to the bar and started practicing law in Norwich, Connecticut.
Marriage
In 1761, Huntington married Martha Devotion, the daughter of the Reverend Ebenezer Devotion of Windham. They had no children, but after Reverend Joseph Huntington’s death (Huntington’s brother), they adopted his two children.
AHC Notes
- The children were a boy, Samuel, and a girl, Frances.
- Samuel H. Huntington became the Governor of Ohio in 1810.
- Frances Huntington married Reverend Edward Door Griffin, who served as the President of Williams College.
Connecticut Politics
In 1764, Norwich elected him as its representative to the Connecticut Assembly. He was reelected each year until 1774. During this time, he was active in both judicial and legislative affairs.
- In 1765, he became the King’s Attorney for Connecticut.
- From 1765 to 1775, he served as a justice of the peace for New London County.
- In 1773, he was appointed a judge of the colony’s superior courts and reappointed each year.
- In 1775, he was elected to the Governor’s Council and was reelected every year until 1784.
- In 1784, he became Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Connecticut.
Continental Congress
Huntington represented Connecticut in the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1784. While there, he worked on many committees and signed the Declaration of Independence.
In September 1779, Huntington became President of the Congress, succeeding John Jay, who had been appointed to negotiate a treaty between the United States and Spain.
- The Articles of Confederation were ratified during his tenure as President.
- He signed the Articles of Confederation.
- Huntington held the office of President of Congress until July 1781, when poor health forced him to resign.
- He returned to Congress in 1783.
American Revolutionary War
During the American Revolutionary War, Huntington also served on various committees in Connecticut.
- In May 1775, the General Assembly appointed him to a committee responsible for the colony’s defense.
- In July 1777, the Governor and Council appointed him to a committee that met with representatives from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and New York in Springfield, Massachusetts, to discuss the state of the currency.
Governor of Connecticut
In 1785, Huntington became Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, and the next year he was elected Governor. He was reelected Governor every year for the next 11 years.
United States Constitution
Huntington presided over the 1788 Hartford Convention, which was tasked with reviewing the United States Constitution.
- Huntington supported ratification.
- Connecticut ratified the Constitution on January 9, 1788, becoming the fifth state to do so.
1788–1789 Presidential Election
After the Constitution was ratified, the Presidential Election of 1789–1789 was held to elect the first President of the United States.
- Huntington was a member of the Federalist Party and a candidate for the office.
- He received two votes in the Electoral College, both from Connecticut.
AHC Notes
- Public voting was held from December 15, 1788, to Wednesday, January 7, 1789.
- George Washington won the election with 69 Electoral Votes, while John Adams came in second with 34 Electoral votes. Washington became President, and Adams became Vice President.
Death
Huntington died in Norwich, Connecticut, on January 5, 1796, and he was buried in the Old Norwichtown Cemetery.
Accomplishments and Milestones
- 1731, July 5 — Samuel Huntington was born in Windham, Connecticut.
- 1758 — Huntington was admitted to the Connecticut bar.
- 1765, May — He was elected to the Connecticut General Assembly.
- 1765 — Huntington was appointed King’s Attorney for Connecticut and resigned after opposing the Stamp Act.
- 1765–1775 — He served as a Justice of the Peace.
- 1773 — Huntington became a Judge of the Superior Court.
- 1775, May — The Assembly named him to the Committee for the Colony’s Defense.
- 1775, October — Huntington was elected to the Second Continental Congress.
- 1779, September 29 — He was elected President of Congress to succeed John Jay.
- 1781, July 6 — Huntington resigned the Presidency due to poor health.
- 1783 — He returned to Congress for another year.
- 1785, May — Huntington was elected Lieutenant Governor.
- 1786–1796 — He served as Governor of Connecticut.
- 1796, January 5 — He died in Norwich, Connecticut.
AP US History Alignment
Definition
Samuel Huntington (1731–1796) — Huntington was a Connecticut political leader who rose from modest beginnings to become a key figure in the American Revolution and the early national period. He served in the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence, and was the President of the Congress from 1779 to 1781. He later became Connecticut’s Governor and supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
Alignment
Samuel Huntington is part of the following units, topics, and chapters in the AP US History curriculum:
