Wiliam Adams Palmer was born on September 12, 1781 in Hebron, Connecticut, United States. He was the fourth son in the family of eight children of Stephen and Susannah (Sawyer) Palmer. He was descended from Walter Palmer who settled in Stonington, Connecticut, in 1653. According to tradition an accident to one hand in his youth unfitted him for farm work and turned him toward a professional career.
Palmer received common public-school education. He entered a law office in Hebron, continuing his studies later at Chelsea, Vermont. He was admitted to the bar in 1802.
Palmer started to practise the law during the next few years in one Vermont village after another. He was living in St. Johnsbury when in 1807 he was elected judge of probate for Caledonia County. To perform the duties of this office he moved to the county seat at Danville where he lived on a farm for the rest of his life except for absences on judicial or political service. While serving as probate judge (1807 - 1808, 1811 - 1817) he was also clerk of his county court from 1807 to 1815. In 1811 - 1812, as well as in 1818, 1825 - 1826, and 1829, he was a member of the lower house of the state legislature. In the meantime he sat for one year (1816) as a justice of the supreme court of the state. He became a leader in the Democratic party.
In October 1818 he was elected to fill the vacancy in the United States Senate caused by the resignation of James Fisk, 1763 - 1844, and at the same time was elected for the full term beginning in 1819. At Washington he acquired a temporary unpopularity among Vermonters by voting for the admission in 1819 of Missouri with her pro-slavery constitution. He disclaimed any friendship for slavery but insisted stanchly upon the maintenance of state rights. Palmer was serving in his state legislature when the anti-Masonic storm broke. He needed no new political stalking horse; he joined the growing movement from conviction, for his democratic sentiments had always clashed with secret societies. As the anti-Masonic candidate he therefore stood for the governorship in 1830. In a three-cornered contest he ran second in the popular vote, his Masonic rival winning when the election was thrown into the legislature. The same legislature refused him election to the United States Senate that year (1830).
For the next two years as the anti-Masonic candidate, he was elected by the legislature to the governorship; in 1833 he won by popular vote, in 1834 again by legislative action. In 1835 even the legislature failed after sixty-three attempts to elect a governor. Palmer was forced to retire while his running mate, the lieutenant-governor, carried on the state administration.
When in 1836 the Whig element won control of the anti-Masonic councils, Palmer consented to become the candidate of the Democratic bolters. He was defeated but was elected in that year and in 1837 to the state Senate. His retirement the following year ended his political career save for service in the constitutional convention of 1850. In spite of the bitterness of party passions at the time Palmer appears to have commanded the respect of his opponents. His opposition to the Masonic organization was prompted by an honest and sincere conviction rather than by a desire for political preferment. His appointments while governor showed no discrimination against the Masons for he detested the spoils system. Palmer died on December 3, 1860 in Danville, and is interred in Danville Green Cemetery.
William Adams Palmer was a distinguished Governor of Vermont. His gubernatorial administration was marked by success in the abolishment of imprisonment of females for debt. He promoted commerce, industry, and agriculture in Vermont. He also played a key role in raising additional education revenues and establishing fourteen new schools.
William Adams Palmer was an able, honest, and courageous. In private life his simplicity and his generosity won the devoted affection of his neighbors.
On September 1813, William Adams Palmer married Sarah Blanchard of Danville. They had seven children of whom five sons grew to maturity.
