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Higher Office(s) Served: Senator

CALEB STRONG, the fourth and ninth governor to serve Massachusetts, was born in Northampton, Massachusetts on January 9, 1745. His education was attained at Harvard University, where he graduated in 1764. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1772, and then established his legal career in Northampton. Strong first entered politics in 1772, serving as a selectman of Northampton. He also served as a member of the Northampton committee of safety, was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1776 to 1778, served as a member of the Massachusetts State Senate from 1780 to 1788, and was the Hampshire County attorney from 1776 to 1800. He served as a member of the U.S. Senate from 1789 to 1796, and was a member of the 1787 national convention that framed the U.S. Constitution. He also took part in the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention that ratified the federal constitution. Strong first won election to the Massachusetts governorship on April 7, 1800. He then went on to win reelection to six consecutive terms. Five years later, he recaptured the governorship. He was reelected in 1813, 1814 and 1815. During his tenure, a state prison system was established; the court system was reorganized; and capital punishment limits were imposed. Also, Strong opposed the War of 1812 and denied the federal government's request for deployment of the state militia. After completing his term, Strong left office on May 30, 1816, and retired from public service. Governor Caleb Strong passed away on November 7, 1819, and was buried in the Bridge Street Cemetery in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Sources:

Sobel, Robert and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 2, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.

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