John Mattocks

John Mattocks
16th Governor of Vermont
In office October 13, 1843 – October 11, 1844
Lieutenant	Horace Eaton
Preceded by	Charles Paine
Succeeded by	William Slade
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 5th district
In office March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	Isaac Fletcher
Succeeded by	District eliminated
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 5th district
In office March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827
Preceded by	Samuel C. Crafts
Succeeded by	Daniel Azro Ashley Buck
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 6th district
In office March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	None
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office 1807 1815–1816 1823–1824
Personal details
Born	March 4, 1777 Hartford, Connecticut
Died	August 14, 1847 (aged 70) Peacham, Vermont
Political party	Whig
Spouse(s)	Esther Newell
Profession	Lawyer Judge Politician

John Mattocks (March 4, 1777 – August 14, 1847) was an American Whig politician, a brigadier general in the War of 1812, U.S. Congressman, and sixteenth Governor of Vermont.

Biography

Mattocks was born in Hartford, Connecticut on March 4, 1777. He moved with his parents to Tinmouth, Vermont in 1778. His father, Samuel Mattocks, was a veteran of the American Revolution and served as Vermont State Treasurer from 1784 to 1800. John Mattocks pursued an academic course, studied law in Middlebury, Vermont and Fairfield, Connecticut, and was admitted to the bar in 1797.^[1] He married Esther Newell and they had five children;^[2] three sons, George, John, and William; and two daughters named Esther who died in their first years.

Career

Mattocks commenced practice in Danville; moved to Peacham, Caledonia County, Vermont. He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives in 1807, 1815, 1816, 1823, and 1824. During the War of 1812, he served as a brigadier general of militia.^[3]

Mattocks was elected to the Seventeenth Congress (March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823); elected to the Nineteenth Congress (March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827); and served as chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Expenditures in the Department of War (Nineteenth Congress). He was a judge of the Vermont Supreme Court in 1833 and 1834; declined to be a candidate for renomination; and became a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1836.^[4] He was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843).

Neither Mattocks nor his Democratic opponent Daniel Kellogg received a majority of the popular vote for Governor in 1843. In accordance with the Vermont Constitution, the Vermont General Assembly made the selection, and chose Mattocks.^[5] During his tenure, he took a strong stand against slavery. During his term, his son, George, committed suicide and, grief-stricken, Mattocks declined to run for another term. He became active in his local Congregational Church.

Death and legacy

Mattocks died in Peacham, Vermont, August 14, 1847; is interred at Peacham Village Cemetery, Caledonia County, Vermont. His house, built in 1805 and purchased in 1807, stands in the center of town and is a local landmark.^[6] His son, John was a minister, and his son, William became a lawyer, and Caledonia County's state's attorney.

References

1. "John Mattocks". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
2. "John Mattocks". National Governors Association. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
3. "John Mattocks". National Governors Association. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
4. "John Mattocks". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
5. "John Mattocks". Find A Grave. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
6. "John Mattocks". Find A Grave. Retrieved 23 October 2012.

External links

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Find A Grave
• National Governors Association