biography
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1726–90)
|
| biography:
| US statesman, merchant, and governor, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. A wealthy merchant and property owner, he served in the Massachusetts General Court and Council, and although hardly a revolutionary, he did endorse the colonists' economic quarrels with the British. He served as president of the convention that drew up the new constitution for Massachusetts (1779), then became governor (1785–7). As governor during the period of Shays's Rebellion (1786–7), he responded promptly and vigorously by sending troops to confront and disperse Daniel Shays's followers. He was applauded for this in other states, but his popularity declined in Massachusetts. Interested in science and literature, Bowdoin College was named for him, and was chartered in 1794. |
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