Moses Gill
Encyclopedia
Moses Gill was a Massachusetts
politician
who briefly served as Acting Governor of the state.
, until 1767, when he removed to Princeton, Massachusetts
. In 1759 he married Sarah Prince, daughter to pastor Thomas Prince
of Boston's Old South Church. She died in 1771, and he remarried in 1773 to Rebecca Boylston, a scion of the influential Boylston family. She was a sister of Nicholas Boylston, a benefactor of Harvard University
.
In 1774 he was elected to the provincial assembly. The assembly was dissolved by Governor Thomas Gage
under the terms of the Massachusetts Government Act
(a punishment to Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party
), but it shortly afterwards reconstituted itself as the Massachusetts Provincial Congress
. When the American Revolutionary War
broke in in April 1775, Gill became involved in the military organization that sprang up to manage the early days of the Siege of Boston
.
He continued to serve in the state legislature, winning election to the senate in 1789. In 1794 he was elected Lieutenant Governor
, serving under Increase Sumner
. When Governor Sumner died on June 7, 1799, he became Acting Governor
.
When Gill himself died in office on just one year later, no one was in place to serve after his death. For eight days, the Governor's Council ruled the state until the inauguration of Caleb Strong
.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who briefly served as Acting Governor of the state.
Life
He was a merchant living in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, until 1767, when he removed to Princeton, Massachusetts
Princeton, Massachusetts
Princeton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States.It is bordered on the east by Sterling and Leominster, on the north by Westminster, on the northwest by Hubbardston, on the southwest by Rutland, and on the southeast by Holden....
. In 1759 he married Sarah Prince, daughter to pastor Thomas Prince
Thomas Prince
Thomas Prince was an American clergyman, scholar and historian noted for his historical text A Chronological History of New England, in the Form of Annals...
of Boston's Old South Church. She died in 1771, and he remarried in 1773 to Rebecca Boylston, a scion of the influential Boylston family. She was a sister of Nicholas Boylston, a benefactor of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
In 1774 he was elected to the provincial assembly. The assembly was dissolved by Governor Thomas Gage
Thomas Gage
Thomas Gage was a British general, best known for his many years of service in North America, including his role as military commander in the early days of the American War of Independence....
under the terms of the Massachusetts Government Act
Massachusetts Government Act
The Massachusetts Government Act was passed by the Parliament of Great Britain and became a law on May 20, 1774. The act is one of the Intolerable Acts , designed to suppress dissent and restore order in the Province of Massachusetts Bay...
(a punishment to Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a direct action by colonists in Boston, a town in the British colony of Massachusetts, against the British government and the monopolistic East India Company that controlled all the tea imported into the colonies...
), but it shortly afterwards reconstituted itself as the Massachusetts Provincial Congress
Massachusetts Provincial Congress
The Massachusetts Provincial Congress was a provisional government created in the Province of Massachusetts Bay early in the American Revolution....
. When the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
broke in in April 1775, Gill became involved in the military organization that sprang up to manage the early days of the Siege of Boston
Siege of Boston
The Siege of Boston was the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War, in which New England militiamen—who later became part of the Continental Army—surrounded the town of Boston, Massachusetts, to prevent movement by the British Army garrisoned within...
.
He continued to serve in the state legislature, winning election to the senate in 1789. In 1794 he was elected Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor (United States)
In the United States, 43 of the 50 states have a separate, full-time office of lieutenant governor. In most cases, the lieutenant governor is the highest officer of state after the governor, standing in for that officer when he or she is absent from the state or temporarily incapacitated...
, serving under Increase Sumner
Increase Sumner
Increase Sumner was an American politician from Massachusetts. He served as the fifth governor of Massachusetts from 1797 to 1799. Trained as a lawyer, he served in the provisional government of Massachusetts during the American Revolutionary War, and was elected to the Confederation Congress in...
. When Governor Sumner died on June 7, 1799, he became Acting Governor
Acting governor
An acting governor is a constitutional position created in some U.S. states when the governor dies in office or resigns. In some states, the governor may also be declared to be incapacitated and unable to function for various reasons, including illness and absence from the state for more than a...
.
When Gill himself died in office on just one year later, no one was in place to serve after his death. For eight days, the Governor's Council ruled the state until the inauguration of Caleb Strong
Caleb Strong
Caleb Strong was Massachusetts lawyer and politician who served as the sixth and tenth Governor of Massachusetts between 1800 and 1807, and again from 1812 until 1816.-Biography:...
.