Levi Underwood | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Vermont | |
| In office 1860–1862 | |
| Governor | Erastus Fairbanks Frederick Holbrook |
| Preceded by | Burnham Martin |
| Succeeded by | Paul Dillingham |
| Member of the Burlington, Vermont Board of Aldermen from the North Ward | |
| In office 1865–1866 Serving with Lawrence Barnes | |
| Preceded by | None (position created) |
| Succeeded by | Lawrence Barnes, John H. Worcester, John A. Arthur |
| Member of the Vermont Senate from Chittenden County | |
| In office 1856–1857 Serving with Martin Wires, Francis Wilson | |
| Preceded by | George W. Benedict, E. H. Wheeler, John Allen |
| Succeeded by | Lucius E. Chittenden, Martin Wires, Francis Wilson |
| State's Attorney of Chittenden County, Vermont | |
| In office 1852–1854 | |
| Preceded by | Aaron B. Maynard |
| Succeeded by | Torrey E. Wales |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 24, 1821 Hardwick, Vermont, US |
| Died | March 11, 1902 (aged 80) Brattleboro, Vermont, US |
| Resting place | Greenmount Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont |
| Political party | Democratic (before 1854) Republican (from 1854) |
| Spouse | Cornelia Van Ness Chamberlain (m. 1851-1902, her death) |
| Relations | Abel Underwood (uncle) |
| Children | 6 |
| Residence | Burlington, Vermont |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Levi Underwood (December 24, 1821 – March 11, 1902) was a lawyer and politician from Vermont. Originally a Democrat, Underwood's antislavery views caused him to join the new Republican Party when it was founded. Underwood was most notable for his service as the 23rd lieutenant governor of Vermont from 1860 to 1862.
A native of Hardwick, Vermont, Underwood was raised and educated in Hardwick, studied law, and attained admission to the bar in 1842. A longtime resident of Burlington, Underwood was also active in railroads, banking, and insurance. Originally a Democrat, he served in local offices including justice of the peace. He was State's Attorney of Chittenden County from 1852 to 1854. He joined the new Republican party at its founding, served as president of its 1856 state convention, and was a delegate to the 1856 Republican National Convention. In September 1856, Underwood was elected to a one-year term in the Vermont Senate, and he served from October 1856 to October 1857.
In 1860, Underwood was the successful Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. He was reelected in 1861, and served from October 1860 to October 1862. As lieutenant governor during the American Civil War, Underwood supported the Union war effort through efforts including subscription drives to raise money for equipping soldiers from Vermont. Underwood declined to become a candidate for reelection or any other office in 1862, and returned to his Burlington business and legal interests. When Burlington became a city in 1865, Underwood served a two-year term on its original board of aldermen.
Underwood retired in the mid-1880s, and lived at the Brattleboro Retreat. He died in Brattleboro on March 11, 1902. Underwood was buried at Greenmount Cemetery in Burlington.