Lawrence BRAINERD, Congress, VT (1794-1870)

BRAINERD, Lawrence, a Senator from Vermont; born in East Hartford, Conn., March 16, 1794; went to Troy, N.Y., in 1803 to reside with an uncle and in 1808 moved with him to St. Albans, Vt.; completed preparatory studies; taught school; employed as a clerk in a mercantile establishment until 1816; engaged in mercantile, banking, navigation, and railroad enterprises; elected to the state legislature in 1834; affiliated with the Whig Party until 1840, when he became a member of the Liberty Party; unsuccessful candidate for Governor in 1846, 1847, 1848, 1852, and 1854; elected as a member of the Free Soil Party to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Upham and served from October 14, 1854, to March 3, 1855; was not a candidate for reelection; nominated for Governor but declined; resumed business activities; died in St. Albans, Franklin County, Vt., May 9, 1870; interment in Greenwood Cemetery.

Bibliography

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present