William A. Palmer

William Adams Palmer


13th Governor of Vermont
In office October 18, 1831 – November 2, 1835
Lieutenant	Lebbeus Egerton
Preceded by	Samuel C. Crafts
Succeeded by	Silas H. Jennison
United States Senator from Vermont
In office October 20, 1818 – March 3, 1825
Preceded by	James Fisk
Succeeded by	Dudley Chase
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office 1811-1812
Personal details
Born	(1781-09-12)September 12, 1781 Hebron, Connecticut
Died	December 3, 1860(1860-12-03) (aged 79) Danville, Vermont
Political party	Democratic-Republican, National Republican, Anti-Masonic
Spouse(s)	Sarah Chandler Blanchard
Profession	Lawyer / Judge / Politician

William Adams Palmer (September 12, 1781 – December 3, 1860) was an American politician, a lawyer, an Anti-Mason, thirteenth Governor of Vermont, and a US Senator from Vermont.

Palmer was born in Hebron, Connecticut. He was a descendant of Walter Palmer, part-founder of Charlestown, Massachusetts, and New London, Connecticut. During childhood, he lost part of one hand in an accident when he slipped and fell on ice while carrying an axe. He completed his elementary education in Hebron. He studied law in Hebron with John Thompson Peters, later a Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, and then with Daniel Buck in Chelsea, Vermont. Palmer was admitted to the bar in 1805 and practiced in Brownington, Derby, and St. Johnsbury before settling in Danville. He married Sarah Chandler Blanchard of Danville in 1813, and the couple had seven children, five of whom survived to adulthood. In 1817 Palmer areceived the honorary degree of master of arts from the University of Vermont.

Palmer was elected Probate Judge for Caledonia County from 1807 to 1808, and from 1811 to 1817. He was clerk of the county court from 1807 to 1815, and a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1811 to 1812 and again in 1818. He was a judge of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1816 to 1818.