William Moore (statesman)

Infobox Politician (general)
name= William Moore


image_width=
title=3rd Vice-President of Pennsylvania
term_start= 11 November 1779
term_end= 14 November 1781
predecessor= Matthew Smith
successor= James Potter
title2= 4th President of Pennsylvania
term_start2= 15 November 1781
term_end2= 7 November 1782
predecessor2= Joseph Reed
successor2= John Dickinson
title3= Judge of the Court of Errors and Appeals
term_start3= 1783
term_end3= ?
predecessor3=
successor3=
title4= Pennsylvania General Assembly
term_start4= 1784
term_end4= ?
predecessor4=
successor4=
birth_date= c 1735
birth_place= Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
death_date= 24 July 1793
death_place=
party=
residence=
spouse= Sarah Lloyd
profession= merchant, politician, banker, judge
religion=

William Moore (c.1735 – July 24, 1793) was a Pennsylvania statesman and politician of the Revolutionary era. He served as Vice-President of Pennsylvania, 1779-1781, and then as President, 1781-1782. (The positions of President and Vice-President of Pennsylvania are analogous to the modern offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively). Moore was the only man formally elected to both offices. He was also a judge, a state legislator, a director of the Bank of Pennsylvania and a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania.

Early life and family

William Moore was born circa 1735 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Robert and Elizabeth Moore. Like his father, William became a successful merchant. In 1757 he married Sarah Lloyd, a member of one of Philadelphia's oldest and most powerful families. William and Sarah had at least one son.

Political life

Moore supported colonists' protests against the Stamp Act, imposed upon the American colonies by Great Britain in 1765, but did not embrace some of the more radical ideas of the early Revolutionaries. It was only after his sixteen-year-old son joined the Continental Army's 1776 Canadian campaign that William embraced the Revolution. Nonetheless, his reputation as a moderate brought him support from sometimes opposing political factions.

In 1776 Moore was appointed to the Council of Safety, which governed the State in the early days of the Revolution. The following year he was appointed to the Board of War. In 1778 he was elected to the Continental Congress but declined to serve, preferring a seat on the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. He became Vice-President of the Council on 11 November 1779, defeating James Read. He was reelected 14 November 1780, garnering fifty three of the sixty votes cast and easily defeating James Potter and John Lacey. His second Vice-Presidential term expired 14 November 1781. On that day he was elected the fourth President of the Supreme Executive Council. Moore received sixty four of the sixty seven votes cast, easily defeating James Ewing, James Potter, and John Lacey, each of whom received a single vote. (Potter "was" elected to the Vice-Presidency that day, and would be succeeded by Ewing in 1782.) While most Presidents and Vice-Governors and presidents of Pennsylvania took office immediately upon their election, Moore did not take the oath of office until the following day and did not begin his Presidency until 15 November. Moore served a single term as President, holding office through 7 November 1782. He was the only Vice-President of Pennsylvania to be formally elected to the Presidency of the State. (Although George Bryan today is recognized as a former Governor of Pennsylvania he was never actually elected or elevated to the Presidency and was not addressed as such during his time in office.)

Later roles

As Vice-President, and then President of Pennsylvania, Moore served as an "ex officio" member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, and as President of the Board from 1781-1782. After leaving the Presidency he served as an elected Trustee until 1789.

In 1783 Moore was commissioned a judge of the Court of Errors and Appeals. In 1784 he was elected to the General Assembly. In that same year he became a director of the Bank of Pennsylvania.

Death

William Moore died July 24, 1793.

References

* [http://www.penn.edu University of Pennsylvania] biography of [http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/features/1700s/people/moore_wm.html William Moore]
* [http://www.nga.org National Governors Association] biography of [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=0b898e787744c010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD William Moore]
* [http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/overview.asp?secid=1 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission] listing of [http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/governors/priorgov.asp?secid=31 prior governors]