27 Facts About Increase Sumner

Increase Sumner was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician from Massachusetts.

Increase Sumner was the fifth governor of Massachusetts, serving from 1797 to 1799.

Increase Sumner was elected governor of Massachusetts three times by wide margins, but died shortly after the start of his third term.

Increase Sumner's descendants include his son William H Sumner, for whom the Sumner Tunnel in Boston, Massachusetts, is named, and 20th-century diplomats Sumner Welles and Sumner Gerard.

The elder Increase Sumner was a successful farmer descended from early settlers of Dorchester; he held a number of public offices including coroner for Suffolk County, and selectman of Roxbury.

Increase Sumner excelled at school, and over the resistance of his father was enrolled at Harvard College in 1763.

Increase Sumner sought to study under John Adams, but the latter had enough students.

Increase Sumner was chosen a member of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress in 1776 where he represented the town of Roxbury.

Increase Sumner continued to serve in the provincial congress until the state constitution was adopted in 1780, when he was elected state senator for Suffolk County.

Increase Sumner accepted this position instead of the senate seat, and served from 1782 to 1797.

Increase Sumner did take detailed notes of many of the cases he heard; these notes, preserved at the Massachusetts Historical Society, now form a valuable repository of early Massachusetts judicial history.

Increase Sumner sat on the criminal cases in which participants of the rebellion were tried.

Increase Sumner sat on the court when it heard the appeals in the Quock Walker cases in 1783, concerning a former slave who was seeking confirmation of his freedom.

Increase Sumner was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1791.

The campaign was not very divisive: Increase Sumner was presented as comparatively youthful alternative to the aging Adams.

Increase Sumner was the last governor to preside in what is called the Old State House as the seat of government was moved to the New State House the following year.

Increase Sumner was reelected in 1798 and 1799 against minimal opposition.

Comparatively younger and more vigorous than his predecessors, Increase Sumner actively built up the state militia and worked to ensure its preparedness in case of attack.

Increase Sumner never assumed the duties of office after winning the 1799 election as he was sick on his death bed at the time.

Increase Sumner is interred at the northerly corner of Boston's Granary Burying Ground.

Increase Sumner was for sometime a practitioner at the bar; and for fifteen years an associate judge of the supreme judicial court; was thrice elected governor of Massachusetts in which office he died.

Increase Sumner was called by Divine Providence to rest with his fathers and went down to the chambers of death in the full belief that the grave is the pathway to future existence.

The couple had three children; his son William H Sumner is well known for his efforts to develop what is East Boston and for whom Boston's Sumner Tunnel is named.

Increase Sumner, Maine, incorporated while he was governor in 1798, was named in his honor.

Increase Sumner was described by his son as a talented and practical farmer and an excellent horseman.

Increase Sumner was fond of agriculture and personally grafted an entire orchard of fruit trees on his farm.

Increase Sumner was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and president of the board of trustees of the Roxbury Latin School.