John Hardy Steele
| John Hardy Steele | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 19th Governor of New Hampshire | |
|
In office June 6, 1844 – June 4, 1846 |
|
| Preceded by | Henry Hubbard |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Colby |
| Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives | |
|
In office 1829 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 4, 1789 Salisbury, North Carolina |
| Died | July 3, 1865 (aged 76) Peterborough, New Hampshire |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Jane Moore (died July 30, 1831) Nancy Moore (died February 27, 1870) |
| Profession | Business executive Manufacturer |
John Hardy Steele (January 4, 1789 – July 3, 1865) served as Governor of New Hampshire from 1844 to 1846.
John H. Steele was born in Salisbury, North Carolina on January 4, 1789. His mother, Elizabeth Taylor, was unmarried. His father, John Steele was married to another woman, and was the father of several children with his wife.
As a result of the circumstances of his parentage and the early death of his mother, John Hardy Steele was raised primarily by his maternal grandfather, Absalom Taylor.
Steele was educated in Salisbury, and at age 14 was apprenticed as a cabinetmaker and chair maker. At age 22 Steele settled in Fayetteville, where he worked at his trade for Nathaniel Morrison, a native of Peterborough, New Hampshire. Morrison was impressed with Steele's mechanical aptitude, and asked Steele to accompany him to New Hampshire to establish a textile manufacturing business. Steele designed and constructed the spinning mules and looms for Morrison's mills, one of which was the first to weave cotton cloth by waterpower.
In 1824 Steele joined several partners to establish the Union Manufacturing Company, a cloth production factory which operated successfully with Steele as manager.
A Democrat in a town that was predominantly Whig in its politics, Steele was popular enough personally to win election to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1829. He declined reelection, and also declined an 1831 nomination for a seat in the New Hampshire State Senate. From 1830 to 1838 Steele served as Peterborough's Town Meeting Moderator.
Steele was also active in the New Hampshire Militia, and attained the rank of Colonel as aide-de-camp to Governor Matthew Harvey.
...
Wikipedia