Lawrence Brainerd

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Lawrence Brainerd
Lawrence Brainerd

In office
October 14, 1854March 3, 1855
Preceded by Samuel S. Phelps
Succeeded by Jacob Collamer

Born March 16, 1794
East Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Died May 9, 1870
St. Albans, Vermont, USA
Political party Whig, Liberty, Free Soil
Spouse Fidelia B. Gadcombe
Profession Politician, Clerk, Merchant, Teacher, Banker, Navigator, Railroad executive

Lawrence Brainerd (March 16, 1794May 9, 1870) was a businessman, abolitionist and United States Senator from Vermont. He was the father of Anne Eliza Brainerd Smith and the father-in-law of Vermont Governor J. Gregory Smith.

Born in East Hartford, Connecticut, he went to Troy, New York in 1803 to reside with an uncle and in 1808 moved with him to St. Albans, Vermont. He completed preparatory studies, taught school, was employed as a clerk in a mercantile establishment until 1816, and engaged in mercantile, banking, navigation, and railroad enterprises. In 1834 he was elected to the Vermont Legislature; he was affiliated with the Whig Party until 1840, when he became a member of the Liberty Party. He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Vermont in 1846, 1847, 1848, 1852, and 1854; he was elected as a member of the Free Soil Party to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Upham and served from October 14, 1854, to March 3, 1855. He was not a candidate for reelection, and was nominated for Governor but declined. He resumed business activities and in 1870 died in St. Albans, Vermont; interment was in Greenwood Cemetery.

His son-in-law, J. Gregory Smith, founded and named Brainerd, Minnesota after his father-in-law and wife.

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Preceded by
Samuel S. Phelps
United States Senator (Class 3) from Vermont
October 14, 1854March 3, 1855
Served alongside: Solomon Foot
Succeeded by
Jacob Collamer