Samuel E. Pingree | |
|---|---|
 Samuel E. Pingree as depicted inDeeds of Valor | |
| 40th Governor of Vermont | |
| In office October 2, 1884 – October 7, 1886 | |
| Lieutenant | Ebenezer J. Ormsbee |
| Preceded by | John L. Barstow |
| Succeeded by | Ebenezer J. Ormsbee |
| 34th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont | |
| In office October 5, 1882 – October 2, 1884 | |
| Governor | John L. Barstow |
| Preceded by | John L. Barstow |
| Succeeded by | Ebenezer J. Ormsbee |
| Chairman of the Vermont Railroad Commission | |
| In office 1886–1894 | |
| Preceded by | None (position created) |
| Succeeded by | Olin Merrill |
| State's Attorney ofWindsor County, Vermont | |
| In office 1867–1869 | |
| Preceded by | John F. Deane |
| Succeeded by | James N. Edminster |
| Town Clerk ofHartford, Vermont | |
| In office 1865–1922 | |
| Preceded by | George Tenney |
| Succeeded by | William S. Pingree |
| In office 1861–1861 | |
| Preceded by | Justin C. Brooks |
| Succeeded by | Justin C. Brooks |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1832-08-02)August 2, 1832 Salisbury, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Died | June 1, 1922(1922-06-01) (aged 89) Hartford, Vermont, U.S. |
| Resting place | Hartford Cemetery, Hartford, Vermont U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Education | Dartmouth College |
| Profession |
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| Awards | Medal of Honor |
| Signature | .png) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Branch/service | Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1864 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 1st Vermont Brigade |
| Commands | Company F,3rd Vermont Infantry 2nd Vermont Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Samuel Everett Pingree (August 2, 1832 – June 1, 1922) was an American lawyer and politician from Vermont. ARepublican, he served aslieutenant governor from 1882 to 1884 andgovernor from 1884 to 1886. Pingree was aUnion Army veteran of theAmerican Civil War and received theMedal of Honor for heroism at the 1862Battle at Lee's Mills.
A native ofSalisbury, New Hampshire, Pingree graduated fromDartmouth College in 1857, studied law, and attained admission to the bar in 1859. He then began to practice inHartford, Vermont in partnership with his brother Stephen. In 1861, he served as Hartford's town clerk.
During theAmerican Civil War, Pingree joined the3rd Vermont Infantry, and after receiving his commission, he advanced tocaptain as commander of the regiment's Company F. In 1864, he was alieutenant colonel when he was assigned to command the2nd Vermont Infantry, which he led until receiving his discharge in July 1864. Pingree took part in numerous battles, and in 1891 received theMedal of Honor for heroism at Lee's Mills while commanding Company F in 1862.
After his military service, Pingree practiced law in Hartford and became active in politics as a Republican. He was Hartford's town clerk from 1865 to 1922, andState's Attorney ofWindsor County from 1867 to 1869. In 1882 he was the successful Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, and he served for two years. In 1884, he was the Republican nominee for governor. He won the general election and served one two-year term, in keeping with the provisions of the party's "Mountain Rule".
After his term as governor, Pingree continued to practice law in Hartford. When the Vermont Railroad Commission was created in 1886, he was appointed its first chairman, and he served until 1894. He died in Hartford on June 1, 1922 and was buried at Hartford Cemetery in Hartford.
Samuel E. Pingree was born inSalisbury, New Hampshire on August 2, 1832, the son of Stephen and Judith (True) Pingrey.[1][a] He received his early education inAndover, New Hampshire, andMcIndoes Falls, Vermont, then enteredDartmouth College, where he graduated in 1857.[2] Hestudied law with his cousinAugustus P. Hunton inBethel, Vermont, and wasadmitted to the bar ofWindsor County in December 1859.[2] He then began practicing law inHartford in partnership with his brother Stephen (1835–1892).[2]
Pingree enlisted in Company F,3rd Vermont Infantry in 1861, and was soon chosenfirst lieutenant.[2] In August 1861, he was promoted tocaptain, and was commissionedmajor on September 27, 1862, andlieutenant colonel on January 15, 1863.[2] He was severely wounded at theBattle at Lee's Mills on April 16, 1862, during which he led his company and three others across a wide creek and drove the enemy from rifle pits on the opposite bank.[2] In addition to losing his right thumb, Pingree contracted typhoid; reports of his death appeared in Vermont newspapers, but were quickly corrected.[3][4] He spent ten weeks recuperating in aPhiladelphia hospital.[2]
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During the second day of theBattle of the Wilderness, Pingree was placed in command of the2nd Vermont Infantry, since all the field officers of that unit had been killed or wounded.[2] Pingree participated in the battles ofSpotsylvania,North Anna,Cold Harbor,Petersburg, andWeldon Railroad, where he narrowly escaped capture with a portion of his command.[2] Pingree's final military action occurred atFort Stevens on July 11 and 12, 1864.[2] He mustered out of the service on July 27, 1864, having remained in uniform two months past the end of his enlistment obligation.[2] On August 17, 1891, Pingree received theMedal of Honor for his 1862 actions at Lee's Mills.[5]
While Samuel Pingree served with the 2nd and 3rd Vermont, his brother Stephen Morse Pingree (1835-1892) was a member of the4th Vermont Infantry;[6] originally a first lieutenant in Company E, he eventually attained the rank ofcolonel as the regiment's commander.[7]
After leaving the Army, Samuel and Stephen Pingree led the 8th Infantry Regiment of the Vermont Militia; Samuel commanded as a colonel, and Stephen was second-in-command as a lieutenant colonel.[8]
Pingree returned to Hartford and his law practice, and received hisMaster of Arts degree from Dartmouth in 1867.[2][9] While in college, Pingree became a member ofPhi Beta Kappa andDelta Kappa Epsilon.[10] In 1868 and 1869, he wasstate's attorney forWindsor County.[2] He served as town clerk of Hartford for over 50 years, and was chosen delegate-at-large to the1868 Republican National Convention in Chicago.[2] In 1870 he was elected president of theReunion Society of Vermont Officers.[2] Pingree was an active member of the Windsor County Republican Committee and attended numerous local and state party conventions as a delegate.[11][12]
In the fall of 1882, Pingree was elected lieutenant governor, and in1884, governor.[2] "His administration was characterized by the same efficiency and zeal which he has ever displayed as soldier, lawyer and citizen."[13] During his gubernatorial term, Vermont took steps to conduct oversight and examination of the state's banks and expanded regulation of insurance companies by requiring them to submit annual reports and financial statements.[14] In addition, he worked to increase the length of the school year and expand the number of local schools.[15] On May 1, 1885 he inaugurated Arbor Day in Vermont, making the state the first east of the Mississippi to celebrate the day.[16] During his term Pingree also advocated laws prohibiting the adulteration of maple syrup and honey, which unscrupulous operators had begun to dilute with beet sugar and other less expensive fillers.[16]
After his governorship, Pingree served as chairman of the newly established state railway commission from 1886 to 1894.[2] He was a trustee ofVermont Academy inSaxtons River from 1885 to 1910.[2] He was active in theGrand Army of the Republic and also served as judge advocate of theMedal of Honor Legion, an organization established in 1890 to protect the reputation of the award.[2][17] He was also a trustee of theState Normal School inRandolph for many years, and also served as president of the White River Savings Bank.[2]
In 1886 he was awarded thehonorary degree ofLL.D. fromNorwich University.[18] Pingree died in Hartford on June 1, 1922.[19] He was buried at Hartford Cemetery in Hartford.[20]
On September 15, 1869, Pingree married Lydia M. Steele, daughter of Sanford and Mary (Hinman) Steele, ofStanstead, Quebec.[21] Lydia Steele was the sister ofBenjamin H. Steele, who was a college classmate of Pingree's, and served as an Associate Justice of theVermont Supreme Court.[22]
Lydia Steele and Samuel Pingree were the parents of an adopted son, William Steele Pingree (1879-1965).[21] William S. Pingree attended Norwich University for three years, andBoston University School of Law for one.[23] He completed his legal studies with his father,[23] and after being admitted to the bar in 1904, the younger Pingree practiced law in Hartford, served as town clerk (1923-1942),[24] and also served as Windsor County State's Attorney.[25]
Rank and Organization:
Citation:
| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Republican nominee forLieutenant Governor of Vermont 1882 | Succeeded by |
| Republican nominee forGovernor of Vermont 1884 | ||
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Vermont 1882–1884 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Vermont 1884-1886 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
