William Adams Palmer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 13th Governor of Vermont | |
| In office October 18, 1831 – November 2, 1835 | |
| Lieutenant | Lebbeus Egerton |
| Preceded by | Samuel C. Crafts |
| Succeeded by | Silas H. Jennison |
| United States Senator from Vermont | |
| In office October 20, 1818 – March 3, 1825 | |
| Preceded by | James Fisk |
| Succeeded by | Dudley Chase |
| Member of the Vermont House of Representatives | |
| In office 1811-1812 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 12, 1781 Hebron, Connecticut |
| Died | December 3, 1860 (aged 79) Danville, Vermont |
| Resting place | Danville Green Cemetery, Danville, Vermont |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican National Republican Anti-Masonic Democratic |
| Spouse | Sarah Chandler Blanchard (m. 1813-1853, her death) |
| Relations | Augustine Clarke (brother-in-law) |
| Children | 7 |
| Profession | Attorney |
William Adams Palmer (September 12, 1781 – December 3, 1860) was an American lawyer and politician. A prominent of the Anti-Masonic Party in the 1830s, he was most notable for his service as a United States Senator from Vermont (1818–1825) and the 13th governor of Vermont (1831–1835).
A native of Hebron, Connecticut, Palmer studied law in Hebron before moving to Chelsea, Vermont, where he completed his studies and attained admission to the bar in 1805. He resided in several Vermont towns and attempted to establish a law practice before settling on Danville.
Palmer became active in politics as a Democratic-Republican and served in offices including probate judge of Caledonia County (1807-1808, 1811-1817) and member of the Vermont House of Representatives (1811-1812, 1818). From 1816 to 1818, he served as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.
In 1818, Palmer was elected to the United States Senate. He served until 1825, and during his term the Democratic-Republicans began to split into adherents of John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay, known as the National Republican Party and Andrew Jackson, knows as the Democratic Party. Palmer became affiliated with the National Republicans.
In 1829, Palmer was an organizer of America's first third party, the Anti-Masonic Party. The Anti-Masons opposed secret societies, especially Masons, who they argued controlled several institutions including the government in defiance of democratic principles. The Anti-Masonic movement was especially strong in Vermont, and in 1831, Palmer was elected governor. He was reelected each year through 1834, and served from October 1831 to October 1835.
After leaving the governorship, Palmer farmed and practiced law in Danville. He served in the Vermont Senate from 1836 to 1837. Palmer died in Danville on December 3, 1860, and was buried at Danville Green Cemetery in Danville.