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"James Bowdoin (1726-1790) was an American
political leader from Boston, Massachusetts. He served in both the colonial council
and house and was President of the state's constitutional convention. After
Independence, he was elected Governor of
Massachusetts.
His ancestors [Pierre Boudouin] emigrated from France
with the Protestants, who, on the revocation of the edict of Nantes, in
1688, took refuge in America. He was born in Boston in 1727, [attended
Boston
Latin School as a youth], and was graduated at Harvard College in 1745.
Neither dazzled nor corrupted by the early possession of a great estate,
which he inherited on the death of his father, in 1747, he devoted himself
to the cultivation of his mind, and to literary pursuits. Called by the
troubled scenes which preceded the American Revolution, from retirement and
the enjoyment of domestic life, he became one of the most decided and
fearless leaders of the opposition to the measures of the British
government.
In 1769, his election as Counselor [Senate] was negated
by Governor Bernard; and, in 1770, Hutchinson apologized to the British
ministry for approving him at his election this year, by stating, that 'Mr.
Bowdoin's opposition would be less injurious in the Council than in the
House of Representatives.' His apology was not satisfactory to the British
Court; for a special royal mandate compelled [Hutchinson], in 1773, to apply
to Mr. Bowdoin, when again elected to the Council, his official
[opposition].
During the most critical period of the Revolution, from
1775 to 1779, he 'took his station at the head of the Council, who were
exercising the supreme executive and one branch of the legislative
authority, and thereby exposed himself to punishment for this conspicuous
overt act of treason.'
In 1785, Bowdoin was elected Governor of Massachusetts,
but his tenure was not peaceful. He called up the militia and took major
action to put down Shays' Rebellion, and as a result lost the election of
1787, placing John Hancock back in office.
In 1779, when the people of Massachusetts called a
convention for the purpose of forming a Constitution for the State, Mr.
Bowdoin, in this body, composed of 'as great a number of men of learning,
talents, and patriotism, as had ever been assembled in the Commonwealth,'
was elected its president. In this [position], he confirmed the opinion
previously entertained of his talents and wisdom. Some of the most admired
sections in the Constitution were of his suggestion, or were framed
according to the plan he proposed. In the struggle for the chair of state,
which succeeded, his friends were outweighed by the overwhelming popularity
of Mr. Hancock.
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