Leverett Saltonstall

Leverett Saltonstall was born on June 13, 1783 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. His parents were Dr. Nathaniel Saltonstall and Ann (White) Saltonstall. He was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy and then went to Harvard College, graduating in 1802 with a law degree. In 1803, he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Moving to Salem, he entered the law office of William Prescott, under whose influence and encouragement; Saltonstall became active in the causes and activities of Essex County Federalists.

He met Mary Elizabeth Sanders and the couple married on March 11, 1811. They had four children: Anne (1812), Caroline (1815), Lucy (1822) and Leverett (1825).

His political career began with his election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1813. He was elected to the House again in 1815, 1822, 1827, 1834 and 1844. He served in the Massachusetts Senate in 1817-1820 and as its President in 1831. In March of 1836, Saltonstall was elected to office as the first mayor of Salem. He won office as mayor again in 1837 and 1838. During his term, Salem City Hall was built. When the cornerstone was laid on September 6, 1837, copies of newspapers, the mayor’s speech on the organization of city government, and the new city charter were buried underneath it.

Leverett Saltonstall was popular and his years as a resident and holder of state and city office contributed to his being a founder and vice president of the Essex Historical Society. He also served on the Board of the Harvard Overseers.

In 1838, Saltonstall was elected as a member of the Whig party as a representative from Essex County to the United States Congress from District Two. One of the issues that he considered during his term included the tariff of 1841. Describing himself as a “gloomy politician”, he did not run for a second term.

On his return to Salem, he was semi-retired, seeing a few legal clients, but did accept nomination to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1844. On May 8, 1845, Leverett Saltonstall died of complications from gout and asthma at his home, with his wife and children surrounding him. He is buried at Harmony Grove Cemetery, Aspen Path Lot. 724, Grave 2.

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Photo: Find a Grave.

Sources Consulted:

• Massachusetts Historical Society: Highlights from the Saltonstall Family Collection at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Saltonstall Family Correspondence. Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, MA.
• Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum. Mss.243 Papers of Leverett Saltonstall 1783-1845, Biographical Sketch.
• Wikipedia.