1778 Vermont Republic gubernatorial election

Last updated January 23, 2025

The 1778 Vermont Republic gubernatorial election took place on March 12, 1778, and resulted in the selection of Thomas Chittenden as the republic's first governor.^[1] This was Vermont's first gubernatorial election after declaring independence in 1777.^[2]

After declaring themselves independent, the former New Hampshire Grants were first known as New Connecticut, but soon changed their name to Vermont.^[3] In early 1778, the council of safety that temporarily governed the new republic invited each Vermont town to elect two delegates to meet at a convention in Windsor.^[4]

The delegates assembled on March 12 and organized themselves into the first Vermont House of Representatives.^[4] They then proceeded to the election of a governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, and members of a governor's council, who would serve until elections could be held in October.^[4] Thomas Chittenden, who had served as president of the council of safety,^[5] was chosen for governor.^[4]^[6] Joseph Marsh was elected lieutenant governor, and Ira Allen was the convention's choice for treasurer.^[4]^[7] The names of candidates and balloting totals were not recorded, but the convention's secretary noted that Chittenden was elected "by a great majority of votes."^[4]

On October 8, 1778, the Vermont General Assembly met in Windsor.^[8] Members of the House of Representatives voted for governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, and members of the governor's council.^[9] Chittenden, Marsh, and Allen were elected to one-year terms, though the recorder did not report the vote totals.^[9]

Results

1778 Vermont Republic gubernatorial election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Independent politician	Thomas Chittenden

Related Research Articles

The Vermont Republic gubernatorial election of 1789 took place in September. Though incumbent Governor Thomas Chittenden won a plurality of the popular vote over his main competitor, Vermont Supreme Court Chief Justice Moses Robinson, the Vermont Constitution required that the legislature choose if no candidate won a majority.

The 1779 Vermont Republic gubernatorial election took place throughout September, and resulted in the re-election of Thomas Chittenden to a one-year term.

The 1785 Vermont Republic gubernatorial election took place throughout September, and resulted in the re-election of Thomas Chittenden to a one-year term.

The 1786 Vermont Republic gubernatorial election took place throughout September, and resulted in the re-election of Thomas Chittenden to a one-year term.

The 1787 Vermont Republic gubernatorial election took place throughout September, and resulted in the re-election of Thomas Chittenden to a one-year term.

The 1788 Vermont Republic gubernatorial election took place throughout September, and resulted in the re-election of Thomas Chittenden to a one-year term.

The 1790 Vermont Republic gubernatorial election for governor of the Republic of Vermont took place throughout September, and resulted in the re-election of former Governor Thomas Chittenden to a one-year term.

The 1791 Vermont gubernatorial election for Governor of Vermont, the first since Vermont joined the Union as the 14th state, took place throughout September, and resulted in the re-election of Governor Thomas Chittenden to a one-year term.

The 1792 Vermont gubernatorial election for Governor of Vermont took place throughout September, and resulted in the re-election of Governor Thomas Chittenden to a one-year term.

The 1793 Vermont gubernatorial election for Governor of Vermont took place throughout September, and resulted in the re-election of Governor Thomas Chittenden to a one-year term.

The 1794 Vermont gubernatorial election for Governor of Vermont took place throughout September, and resulted in the re-election of Governor Thomas Chittenden to a one-year term.

The 1795 Vermont gubernatorial election for Governor of Vermont took place throughout September, and resulted in the re-election of Governor Thomas Chittenden to a one-year term.

The 1796 Vermont gubernatorial election for Governor of Vermont took place throughout September, and resulted in the re-election of Governor Thomas Chittenden to a one-year term.

The Vermont gubernatorial election of 1797 for Governor of Vermont took place throughout September, and resulted in the election of Isaac Tichenor to a one-year term.

The 1811 Vermont gubernatorial election for Governor of Vermont took place in September, and resulted in the election of Jonas Galusha to a one-year term.

The 1812 Vermont gubernatorial election for Governor of Vermont took place in September, and resulted in the election of Jonas Galusha to a one-year term.

The 1813 Vermont gubernatorial election for Governor of Vermont took place in September and October, and resulted in the election of Martin Chittenden to a one-year term.

The 1814 Vermont gubernatorial election for Governor of Vermont took place in September and October, and resulted in the election of Martin Chittenden to a one-year term.

The 1815 Vermont gubernatorial election for Governor of Vermont took place in September and October, and resulted in the election of Jonas Galusha to a one-year term.

The 1818 Vermont gubernatorial election for Governor of Vermont took place in September and October, and resulted in the election of Jonas Galusha to a one-year term.

References

↑ Slade, William (1823). Vermont State Papers: Journal of the General Assembly of the State of Vermont, March 1778. Middlebury, VT: J. W. Copeland. p. 257 – via Google Books.
↑ White, Mrs. W. R. (November 1, 1916). "Vermont From the Election of Thomas Chittenden Through the War of 1812". Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine. New York, NY: National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. p. 311 – via Google Books.
↑ Aldrich, Lewis Cass (1891). History of Franklin and Grand Isle Counties, Vermont. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co. pp. 76–77 – via Google Books.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Slade, p. 257.
↑ Slade, p. 227.
↑ Deming, Leonard (1851). Catalogue of the Principal Officers of Vermont. Middlebury, VT: Leonard Deming. p. 9 – via Google Books.
↑ Deming, p. 9.
↑ Slade, p. 275.
1 2 Slade, pp. 276–277.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Slade, William (1823). Vermont State Papers: Journal of the General Assembly of the State of Vermont, March 1778. Middlebury, VT: J. W. Copeland. p. 257 – via Google Books.

[2] White, Mrs. W. R. (November 1, 1916). "Vermont From the Election of Thomas Chittenden Through the War of 1812". Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine. New York, NY: National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. p. 311 – via Google Books.

[3] Aldrich, Lewis Cass (1891). History of Franklin and Grand Isle Counties, Vermont. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co. pp. 76–77 – via Google Books.

[FOOTNOTESlade257-4] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Slade, p. 257.

[FOOTNOTESlade227-5] Slade, p. 227.

[6] Deming, Leonard (1851). Catalogue of the Principal Officers of Vermont. Middlebury, VT: Leonard Deming. p. 9 – via Google Books.

[FOOTNOTEDeming9-7] Deming, p. 9.

[FOOTNOTESlade275-8] Slade, p. 275.

[FOOTNOTESlade276–277-9] 1 2 Slade, pp. 276–277.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]