Increase Sumner and a Changing Massachusetts
Increase Sumner was a longtime Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court who spent his final years as Governor.
Increase Sumner
As a boy, Increase Sumner was educated at Roxbury Latin School under William Cushing.
He followed this up with a degree from Harvard College and soon thereafter opened a law practice.
Sumner quickly became a leader in his community and began speaking out against Parliament’s unfair taxation policies.
By 1776 this rebellious young man, who was in favor of declaring independence, had been elected to the Massachusetts Provincial Congress.
Massachusetts Supreme Court
Sumner participated in the creation of Massachusetts’ constitution, followed by his election as a State Senator.
After two years, Increase was chosen as a Delegate to the Continental Congress but turned the position down when he was appointed to the State Supreme Court (where he would sit next to his old teacher and future US Supreme Court Justice William Cushing).
During his fifteen years on the bench, Sumner was a part of several high profile decisions. These include the cases that finalized the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts and the trials of Shays’ Rebels.
Governor
In 1796, Increase Sumner was chosen to run against Samuel Adams for Governor of Massachusetts.
Unfortunately for Sumner, Sam Adams was...well...Sam Adams. Adams took the election.
The following year, however, Adams’ popularity was fading and he decided not to seek another term.
Increase Sumner filled the void, winning a landslide victory over an array of other (less impressive) candidates.
Funeral
Increase went on to win the following three elections and was wildly popular in his State.
After his third win, however, he fell ill.
Despite having an early campaign on his comparative youth, the 52-year-old found himself on his death bed.
Though he did manage to swear in one last time, Increase Sumner died just after his third term began.
His massive funeral occurred five days later.
Among those in attendance was sitting president John Adams.
Want to read about more early Governors of Massachusetts?
Great! Check out these articles:
Elbridge Gerry - More Than Just Gerrymandering
John Hancock - The Wealthy Rebel
Surprisingly, Increase Sumner does not have a biography, so I will recommend one about his gubernatorial opponent…Sam Adams.
There are tons of book about Adams, but the one I keep handy on my shelf is ‘A Life.’
Pick up a copy through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).
Want to get fun American Revolution articles straight to your inbox every morning?
Smart!
Subscribe to my email list here.
You can also support this site on Patreon by clicking here.
