Heman Allen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromVermont'sat-large district | |
| In office March 4, 1817 – April 20, 1818 | |
| Preceded by | Asa Lyon |
| Succeeded by | William Strong |
| 1st United States Ambassador to Chile | |
| In office January 27, 1823 – July 31, 1827 | |
| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Larned |
| United States Marshal for theDistrict of Vermont | |
| In office December 14, 1818 – March 2, 1823 | |
| Preceded by | David Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Edson |
| Member of theVermont House of Representatives | |
| In office 1812-1817 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1779-02-23)February 23, 1779 |
| Died | April 7, 1852(1852-04-07) (aged 73) |
| Resting place | Greenmount Cemetery,Burlington, Vermont |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican National Republican Whig |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Laura Hart (m. 1823–1834, her death) Eliza Davis Fay (m. 1844–1852, his death) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Dartmouth College |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Heman Allen (February 23, 1779 – April 7, 1852) was an American lawyer, politician and ambassador fromColchester, Vermont. He served as aU.S. Representative and as America's first United StatesMinister Plenipotentiary to Chile.
Allen was born inPoultney,Vermont Republic on February 23, 1779, the son of Heber Allen (1743–1782) and Sarah (Owen) Allen (1748–1787). He attended the common schools, and graduated fromDartmouth College in 1795. Hestudied law and wasadmitted to the bar in 1801.[1] He began thepractice of law inColchester, Vermont.
He was town clerk of Colchester from 1807 until 1817. He served as Sheriff ofChittenden County from 1808 until 1810,[2] when he was succeeded byHeman Lowry.[3] Allen was Chief Justice of the Chittenden County court from 1811 until 1814. He was treasurer of theUniversity of Vermont in 1815.
Allen served as a member of theVermont House of Representatives from 1812 until 1817.[4] While in the State House he received the appointment of quartermaster of militia, with the rank ofBrigadier general.[5] He was elected as aDemocratic-Republican candidate to theFifteenth Congress, serving from March 4, 1817, until his resignation on April 20, 1818.[6] Allen resigned from Congress to becomeUnited States Marshal for the district of Vermont on December 14, 1818; he was reappointed on December 24, 1822.[7] Allen was the agent for paying pensioners in 1819.
He was appointed by PresidentJames Monroe as America's first United StatesMinister Plenipotentiary to the new republic of Chile beginning on January 27, 1823.[8] Allen continued in Chile as minister until July 31, 1827.[9]
In 1829, Allen was the unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate of the newAnti-Masonic Party, which supported him though he had not indicated whether he supported the party or its platform.[10] Allen was the unsuccessfulNational Republican Party candidate in 1831.[11] He served as president of theBurlington branch of theUnited States Bank from 1830 until the expiration of its charter in 1836.[12] Following the expiration of the bank's charter, he resumed the practice of law inHighgate.
When Allen was making arrangements for passage to Chile, he met Elizabeth Hart, the sister-in-law ofIsaac Hull. They married before Allen left for his diplomatic mission. She died in 1834, as did their daughter Jeanette.
In 1844, Allen married Eliza Davis Fay. They were the parents of three daughters and a son.[13]
Allen was the nephew ofIra Allen andEthan Allen. He was the distant cousin ofHeman Allen (of Milton).[14][15] To distinguish between them, Allen was often referred to asHeman Allen (of Colchester) or "Chile Allen" (sometimes "Chili"), while his cousin was calledHeman Allen (of Milton).[16]
Allen died on April 7, 1852, in Highgate. He in interred at Greenmount Cemetery inBurlington.[17]
"Allen, Heman (lawyer)".The Biographical Dictionary of America. Vol. 1. 1906. p. 84.| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | National Republican nominee forGovernor of Vermont 1829 | Succeeded by Samuel C. Crafts |
| First | Anti-Masonic nominee forGovernor of Vermont 1831 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromVermont's at-large congressional district 4 March 1817–20 April 1818 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| United States recognized Chilean Independence | United States Minister Plenipotentiary, Chile 23 April 1824–31 July 1827 | Succeeded by |
| Minister Plenipotentiary |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Chargé d'Affaires | ||
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary | ||
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
