Benjamin Pierce (governor)

Benjamin Pierce


11th Governor of New Hampshire
In office June 7, 1827 – June 5, 1828
Preceded by	David L. Morril
Succeeded by	John Bell
In office June 4, 1829 – June 3, 1830
Preceded by	John Bell
Succeeded by	Matthew Harvey
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
In office 1789-1802
Personal details
Born	December 25, 1757 Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Died	April 1, 1839(1839-04-01) (aged 81) Hillsborough, New Hampshire
Political party	Democratic-Republican

Benjamin Pierce (December 25, 1757 – April 1, 1839) was a colonial soldier in the American Revolution and an American Democratic-Republican politician. He served as Governor of New Hampshire from 1827 to 1828 and from 1829 to 1830.

He was born in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Merrill) Pierce, as well as a direct descendant of Thomas Pierce (1618–1683), the grandson of Sir Richard Carew, who was born in Norwich, Norfolk, England and settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Benjamin Pierce was a distinguished veteran of the Revolutionary War, serving in the 16th Continental Regiment, which was later renamed the 8th Massachusetts Regiment. He was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He was promoted to Ensign in the 1st Massachusetts Regiment for bravery at Saratoga. He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Following the war, he moved to Hillsborough, New Hampshire, where he built the Franklin Pierce Homestead, and was assigned the task of forming the Hillsborough County militia. In 1805, he was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned command of the New Hampshire state militia. Prior to becoming governor, he served in the New Hampshire state legislature from 1789 to 1802 and twice as Sheriff of Hillsborough County, from 1809 to 1812 and later from 1818 to 1827. He was a delegate to the state Constitutional Convention in September 1791 and a member of the Governor's Council from 1803 to 1809 and again in 1814.