42 Facts About Caleb Strong

Caleb Strong was an American lawyer, politician, and Founding Father who served as the sixth and tenth governor of Massachusetts between 1800 and 1807, and again from 1812 until 1816.

Caleb Strong assisted in drafting the Massachusetts State Constitution in 1779 and served as a state senator and on the Massachusetts Governor's Council before being elected to the inaugural United States Senate.

Caleb Strong played an influential role in the development of the United States Constitution at the 1787 Philadelphia Convention and, as a US Senator, in the passage of its 11th Amendment.

Caleb Strong played a leading role in the passage of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the federal court system.

Caleb Strong refused United States Army requests that state militia be placed under army command and in 1814 sought to engage Nova Scotia Governor John Coape Sherbrooke in peace talks.

The state and federal governments' weak defense of Massachusetts' northern frontier during Caleb Strong's tenure contributed to the successful drive for Maine's statehood, which was granted in 1820.

Caleb Strong's parents were Phebe Lyman Strong and Caleb Strong, the latter a descendant of early Massachusetts settlers such as John Strong, a 1630 immigrant to Massachusetts who was one of the founders of Northampton and the lead elder of the church for many years.

Caleb Strong received his early education from Rev Samuel Moody and entered Harvard College in 1760, graduating four years later with high honors.

Caleb Strong was shortly thereafter afflicted with smallpox, which temporarily blinded him and prevented him from engaging in the study of law for several years.

Caleb Strong studied law with Joseph Hawley, was admitted to the bar in 1772, and began the practice of law in Northampton.

Caleb Strong served on the Northampton Committee of Safety and in other local offices but refused service in the Continental Congress.

Caleb Strong was a delegate to the 1779 Massachusetts Constitutional Convention and was elected to the committee that drafted the state constitution, ratified in 1780.

Caleb Strong then served on the first governor's council and in the state senate from 1780 to 1789.

Caleb Strong became a judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1775 and was appointed county attorney of Hampshire County the following year, a post he held until 1800.

Caleb Strong was described by a contemporary as meticulously detailed in his preparation of legal paperwork and a persuasive advocate when speaking to a jury.

Caleb Strong was elected as a delegate to the Philadelphia Convention that drafted the 1787 Constitution.

Caleb Strong was a vocal supporter of its adoption by the state's ratifying convention.

Caleb Strong was one of the principal drafters of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the federal courts.

Caleb Strong was instrumental in 1793 and 1794 in the development and passage by Congress of the 11th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Caleb Strong was one of a small group of senators who convinced President George Washington in 1794 that a special envoy should be sent to Britain in order to avert war, and who convinced John Jay to accept that role.

Caleb Strong resigned his seat in 1796 and returned to private life in Northampton.

Caleb Strong was criticized by his opponents for his lack of military service and for the fact that he was a lawyer; he countered by asserting his patriotism through his association with Joseph Hawley.

Caleb Strong won annual reelection to the governor's seat until 1807.

Caleb Strong was proclaimed the winner after further, less biased, analysis corrected the count in his favor.

In 1812 Caleb Strong was convinced by Massachusetts Federalist leaders to come out of retirement to run for governor.

Caleb Strong was reelected by wide margins in the following war years.

Caleb Strong took a principled stand against the War of 1812, generally refusing to assist federal government efforts to prosecute the war.

Caleb Strong was part of a chorus of Massachusetts Federalists who complained that in "Mr Madison's War" the federal government was trampling state and individual rights.

Caleb Strong adhered to the view that state militia could not be required to serve under regular army command.

Caleb Strong argued that there was no need to call out the militia because invasion was not imminent.

Caleb Strong took no particular actions to prevent widespread smuggling along the state's frontiers with the neighboring British provinces.

Caleb Strong was more concerned that the state militia not be used except in defense of the state's borders, and he compromised on the issue of command.

Dearborn interpreted the agreement Caleb Strong had made with Cushing to apply statewide and began reorganizing militia companies to conform to regular army practices.

Around the time of the convention, which was held in Hartford, Connecticut, beginning in December 1814, Caleb Strong secretly wrote to Nova Scotia Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, essentially offering a separate peace in exchange for the return of the seized territory.

Caleb Strong refused to authorize temporary Massachusetts funding for a federally led expedition to recover Castine, leading to further cries of indignation from Maine's Republicans.

In 1816, with the war at an end, Caleb Strong decided to retire from politics.

Caleb Strong died in Northampton on November 7,1819, and was buried in its Bridge Street Cemetery.

In 1777 Caleb Strong married Sarah Hooker, the daughter of a local pastor and descendant of Thomas Hooker, founder and first governor of Connecticut.

Caleb Strong was active in his church and was a leading member of local missionary and Bible societies.

Caleb Strong was a founding member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society.

In 1813, Caleb Strong was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society.

In World War II, the United States liberty ship SS Caleb Strong was named in his honor.