Background
William Alfred Buckingham was born on May 28, 1804 in Lebanon, New London County, Connecticut, the son of Samuel and Joanna (Matson) Buckingham.
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Message-Legislature-State-Session-1862/dp/1373905018?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1373905018
(Excerpt from Sketch of William Alfred Buckingham But the...)
Excerpt from Sketch of William Alfred Buckingham But the pattern of organization at New Haven was copied for the church in Milford in that same year. Indeed, the cer emony of organization took place in New Haven. Mr. Peter Prudden, the pastor, with William Fowler, Edmund Tapp, Zechariah Whitman, Thomas Buckingham, Thomas Welch, and John Astwood, were the seven pillars which wisdom had hewn out for the construction of this church in the wilderness. Dr. Sprague makes a mistake in a note in his Annals, where he confuses this Thomas Buckingham with his son, afterwards minister at Saybrook. The first Thomas Buckingham was only a prominent layman, like his distinguished descendant two hundred years later. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
https://www.amazon.com/Sketch-William-Buckingham-Classic-Reprint/dp/133219673X?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=133219673X
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Buckingham-family-descendants-settlers-Milford/dp/1294999079?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1294999079
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Buckingham-Family-Descendants-Settlers-Milford/dp/1297701623?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1297701623
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Buckingham-Family-Descendants-Settlers-Milford/dp/1375647644?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1375647644
William Alfred Buckingham was born on May 28, 1804 in Lebanon, New London County, Connecticut, the son of Samuel and Joanna (Matson) Buckingham.
William attended the local schools and afterward the Bacon Academy in Colchester.
Until Buckingham was twenty, Buckingham worked on the home farm. Then he clerked in a Norwich dry-goods shop; was employed for a brief time in a wholesale establishment in New York; and finally in 1826 opened at Norwich a dry-goods store of his own.
In 1830 he also took up the manufacture of ingrain carpet, then much in vogue. Both the dry-goods business and carpet-weaving he relinquished in 1848 to help organize the Hayward Rubber Company. Its plant for the making of India-rubber goods was situated in Colchester and he became its treasurer. Twice--in 1849-50 and again in 1856-57--he served as mayor of Norwich.
The contest was watched with peculiar interest, particularly in the South. Buckingham won by the close margin of 541 votes. Abraham Lincoln, already known to the East through his Cooper Union speech of February 27, 1860, visited Connecticut in March of that year and met the man who was to be one of the relatively small group of distinguished "war governors, " and who was to render him much the same kind of support that Trumbull had given Washington.
On January 17, 1861, Buckingham issued to the state militia a proclamation of warning, advising readiness for "any exigency. " Nevertheless when the President on April 15 summoned to arms 75, 000 three months militia, so far from ready were the Connecticut forces that the State could not furnish even the one regiment fixed as her quota.
Buckingham on his own responsibility had already ordered equipments for 5, 000 men; and although without due authority, he now called for a regiment of volunteers. In May the General Assembly met, ratified what Buckingham had done, and voted $2, 000, 000 for military purposes.
Connecticut's first regiment did not arrive in Washington until May 13, But it arrived fully prepared for active duty. Two more regiments followed. Though he did not resort to the draft, Buckingham eventually furnished during the period of the war no less than 54, 882 volunteers--this at a time when the population numbered but 461, 000 and the voters only about 80, 000. The governor's concern for the welfare of Connecticut troops was unfailing. Both the national administration and the citizens of his state had particular confidence in his ability and spirit.
After two years of private life, he was elected (1868) to the United States Senate, to serve from March 4, 1869. There, respected for his personal qualities, he was also valued for his services--especially as a conscientious and hardworking member of the committees on commerce and on Indian affairs (chairman).
Buckingham died in Norwich on February 5, 1875. He is interred at Yantic Cemetery, Norwich, Connecticut.
Buckingham was a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions and the moderator of the first National Council of the Congregational Churches (1865), and he became president of the American Temperance Union. He was among the founders of Norwich Free Academy (1856) and the benefactors of the Yale Divinity School. In him strong convictions and a high ideal of public service were united to a winning temperament and an old-school dignity and courtesy. On June 18, 1884, a bronze statue of him, modeled by Olin L. Warner, was unveiled in the battle-flag vestibule of the capitol at Hartford.
(Excerpt from Sketch of William Alfred Buckingham But the...)
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
(Lang:- English, Pages 443. Reprinted in 2015 with the hel...)
In 1858 he was elected governor on the ticket of the newly formed Republican party. Reelected seven consecutive times, he was in office eight years, the longest period of service of any Connecticut governor since the days of Oliver Wolcott (1817 - 27). In 1860 his opponent was Thomas H. Seymour, sometimes called "the Democratic war-horse, " who had been governor in 1850-53.
Quotes from others about the person
His associate John J. Ingalls said of him, "While the powers of his intellect were upon a high plane, yet were I called upon to define the impression that remains strongest with me, I should say it was that of incomparable rectitude and dignity".
Of Buckingham it has been said, "The military and civil history of Connecticut during the war of 1861-65, is almost wholly the story of his administration" .
He was married to Eliza Ripley.
