Martin Chittenden

Martin Chittenden
7th Governor of Vermont
In office 1813–1815
Preceded by	Jonas Galusha
Succeeded by	Jonas Galusha
Personal details
Born	March 12, 1763(1763-03-12) Salisbury, Connecticut
Died	September 5, 1840(1840-09-05) (aged 77) Williston, Vermont
Political party	Democratic Republican
Profession	judge / politician

Martin Chittenden (March 12, 1763 – September 5, 1840) was the seventh Governor of Vermont during a crucial portion of the War of 1812.

Chittenden was born in Salisbury, Connecticut, and moved to Vermont in 1776 in the wake of the founding of the town of Williston by his father, Thomas Chittenden. In 1789, Martin Chittenden graduated from Dartmouth College. Shortly thereafter, he served as a delegate to the state convention that ratified the United States Constitution. After serving in several judicial positions, he became Chief Justice of the Chittenden County Court in 1796. In 1803, he was elected to Congress, where he served until 1813. That same year, he was elected Governor of Vermont, replacing his brother-in-law, Jonas Galusha, who was also his successor in the post. Fighting between American and British forces was fierce on the current United States–Canada border. In November 1813, conscious of the British encroachment on Plattsburgh, New York, members of the Vermont militia asked Chittenden to let them intervene. Chittenden declined, though the militia leaders claimed that this was the result of pressure from his advisors. After his retirement from elected office, Chittenden served as a probate judge and died in Williston in 1840. He is buried in Old Williston Cemetery.

Reference

• Martin Chittenden at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by none (first)	U.S. Representative from Vermont's 4th district 1803–1813	Succeeded by Charles Rich

Persondata
Name	Chittenden, Martin
Alternative names
Short description	American politician
Date of birth	March 12, 1763
Place of birth	Salisbury, Connecticut
Date of death	September 5, 1840
Place of death	Williston, Vermont