Levi Knight Fuller was an American inventor and manufacturer. Also, he was a governor of Vermont.
Background
Levi Knight Fuller was born on February 24, 1841, at Westmoreland, New Hampshire. He was the second son of Washington and Lucinda Constantine Fuller.
His father was of old New England, his mother of German ancestry.
Education
In 1845, Fuller moved with his parents to Bellows Falls, Vermont, where he attended the public schools for several years. At the age of thirteen, he felt obliged to leave school in order to make his own living.
For the next few years, he studied telegraphy in his leisure hours. He became deeply interested in the subject of electricity and showed a decided aptitude for mechanical pursuits.
In 1856, he went to Boston and served an apprenticeship to a machinist, and also availed himself of the opportunity to pursue scientific studies in the evening schools.
Career
With only twenty-five cents in his pocket, Fuller left home, went to Brattleboro, Vermont, and entered the employ of James A. Capen as a printer. For the next few years, he worked at the trade.
In 1857, he went to Burlington, Vermont, as a telegraph operator, but returned to Brattleboro in 1860 to enter the employ of J. Estey & Company, later the Estey Organ Company, as a mechanical engineer.
He was actively identified with this concern in various capacities for the rest of his life, becoming in 1866 a member of the firm and its vice-president. In addition to these activities, he maintained for a number of years a machine shop of his own for the manufacture of wood-working machinery and sewing-machines and carried on scientific investigations of importance.
After having achieved success in business, Fuller responded to the call of politics. He represented Windham County in the state Senate from 1880 to 1882 and served as chairman of the committee on finance.
In 1886, he was elected lieutenant-governor on the ticket with E. J. Ormsbee. In 1892, he was nominated on the Republican ticket for governor and was elected despite the fact that it was an unfavorable year for the party through the country at large.
Achievements
Religion
During his youth, Fuller became a member of the Baptist Church and throughout his life, he was a liberal supporter of its activities and institutions, especially of the Vermont Academy at Saxtons River.
Views
Fuller was deeply interested in the advancement of the welfare of the negro and for several years was a member of the board of trustees of Shaw University.
Membership
Fuller was an active member of numerous scientific societies, the most important of which were the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Society of American Engineers.
Connections
Fuller was married on May 8, 1865, to Abby Emily Estey, daughter of Jacob and Desdemona Wood Estey.