William Badger

For other people named William Badger, see William Badger (disambiguation).

William Badger
15th Governor of New Hampshire
In office June 5, 1834 – June 2, 1836
Preceded by	Samuel Dinsmoor
Succeeded by	Isaac Hill
President of the New Hampshire Senate
In office 1816–1817
Preceded by	Moses P. Payson
Succeeded by	Jonathan Harvey
Member of the New Hampshire Senate
In office 1814-1817
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
In office 1810-1812
Personal details
Born	January 13, 1779 Gilmanton, New Hampshire
Died	September 21, 1852(1852-09-21) (aged 73)

William Badger (January 13, 1779 – September 21, 1852) was an American manufacturer and mill owner from Gilmanton, New Hampshire. He served in both houses of the New Hampshire General Court and was elected Governor for two terms.

Badger was born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire. Educated at common school and at Gilmanton Academy, Badger worked after his school years to build a cotton cloth factory, a saw mill and a grist mill for his town. In 1804 Badger was made a trustee of Gilmanton Academy; he ultimately became President of the board for the school.

Badger served as an aide to Governor John Langdon (governor 1805-1812). In 1810 he was elected to the first of three consecutive terms as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives (served 1810-1812); then he served three terms in the New Hampshire Senate (1814–1817; President of the Senate, 1816–1817). Badger served as Associate Justice, Court of Common Pleas (1816–1820), and as High Sheriff of Strafford County, New Hampshire (1820–1830). He was a Presidential Elector in the national elections of 1824, 1836 and 1844.

In 1834 Badger won the gubernatorial election, and he won the next term as well. As Governor, Badger called for eliminating capital punishment, a new idea for New Hampshire. He had to deal with the breakaway Indian Stream Republic. Badger also encouraged the legislature to support President Andrew Jackson's successful efforts to do away with The Second Bank of the United States (helping to bring on the Panic of 1837). Badger tried to inject new life into the state militia by statute; he also was interested in bringing smallpox prevention directly to the state's small farming towns.

References

Additional Information on William Badger from: Publications - A Guide to Likenesses of New Hampshire Officials and Governors on Public Display at the Legislative Office Building and the State House Concord, New Hampshire, to 1998 Compiled by Russell Bastedo, New Hampshire State Curator, 1998