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John Langdon, New Hampshire Patriot, ALS 

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:350.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 700.00 USD
John Langdon, New Hampshire Patriot, ALS 

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Auction Date:2009 Jun 24 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Location:6270 Este Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45232, United States
1p, 8" x 9.75", Portsmouth (NH), 25 Dec. 1801. Addressed to William Eustis, then member of Congress from Massachusetts (later Governor of that state), recommending Aaron Hill as Postmaster of Boston, should Jonathan Hastings "be removed." Interestingly, these two men served as the only Postmasters of Boston until the Jackson presidency. According to Davis (1894: 463): During the period from Washington to the inauguration of President Jackson, Boston had but two Postmasters, Jonathan Hastings and Aaron Hill. Hastings was originally appointed by the Province Congress of Massachusetts, and served until 1808, when he was succeeded by Aaron Hill. Both were natives of Cambridge; both were Harvard graduates; both were identified with the Revolution; both served an unusual number of years as Postmasters. Hill served in the army of the Revolution; was a Selectman of Cambridge from 1795 to 1805, and in 1807, Town Clerk from 1798 to 1805, a member of the Massachusetts Legislature from 1795 to 1808, and a member of the Governor’s Council in 1810-11 and 1824-25. He was appointed Postmaster of Boston on July 1, 1808; his successor was appointed March 21, 1829. Hill died November 27, 1830. So Mr. Langdon's recommendation did not result in Hill's appointment immediately, but seven years later, he finally held the then-prestigious office.

John Langdon was a wealthy merchant and international trader before the Revolution. British control of shipping hurt Langdon's business, thus predisposing him to support the Revolutionary cause. He served as a member of the first Continental Congress, but resigned at the start of fighting to supervise the construction of warships for the fledging American Navy. He commanded a company of Light Horse at Saratoga and Rhode Island. He returned to the Continental Congress in 1787, and became a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He became one of New Hampshire's first Senators and the first President pro tempore of that body. Among other political positions, he served as Governor of his home state for 1805-1808, 1810-1811. He declined nominations for national executive office, and died in Portsmouth in 1819. [Davis, William T. Professional and Industrial History of Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Boston History Co., 1894.] 

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