Ernest Willard Gibson facts for kids
Ernest Willard Gibson (born December 29, 1872 – died June 20, 1940) was an American politician and lawyer from Vermont. He was a member of the Republican Party and served in both the United States House of Representatives (from 1923 to 1933) and the United States Senate (from 1933 to 1940).
Gibson was born in Londonderry, Vermont. He went to Black River Academy and then Norwich University. After college, he became a high school principal while also studying law. He became a lawyer in 1899 and started his practice in Brattleboro.
He began his political career as a village trustee in Chester. He also held roles like Register of Probate for Windham County and Deputy Clerk for the U.S. District Court in Vermont. Later, he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives and the Vermont Senate. In the State Senate, he was the President pro tempore, which means he was a leading officer. He also served as a municipal court judge in Brattleboro.
Gibson had a long military career in the Vermont National Guard and the United States Army. He served in the Pancho Villa Expedition and World War I. After his military service, he became a leader in the Progressive movement in Vermont, working to keep people with similar views within the Republican Party. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1923 and then to the U.S. Senate in 1933, where he served until his death.
Quick facts for kids
Ernest Willard Gibson
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| United States Senator from Vermont |
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| In office November 21, 1933 – June 20, 1940 |
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| Preceded by | Porter H. Dale |
| Succeeded by | Ernest W. Gibson Jr. |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont |
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| In office November 6, 1923 – October 19, 1933 |
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| Preceded by | Porter H. Dale |
| Succeeded by | Charles A. Plumley |
| Constituency | 2nd district (1923-1933) At-large district (1933) |
| President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate | |
| In office 1908–1910 |
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| Preceded by | William J. Van Patten |
| Succeeded by | Max L. Powell |
| Member of the Vermont Senate from Windham County |
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| In office 1908–1910 Serving with George H. Gorham
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| Preceded by | Charles S. Chase, Brigham T. Phelps |
| Succeeded by | Edwin P. Adams, Edgar M. Butler |
| Judge of the Brattleboro, Vermont Municipal Court | |
| In office December 20, 1906 – December 1, 1910 |
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| Preceded by | None (position created) |
| Succeeded by | Kittredge Haskins |
| Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Brattleboro |
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| In office 1906–1908 |
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| Preceded by | Clarke C. Fitts |
| Succeeded by | Herbert G. Barber |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 29, 1872 Londonderry, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | June 20, 1940 (aged 67) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Grace Fullerton Hadley |
| Children | 4, including Ernest W. Gibson Jr. |
| Alma mater | Norwich University (B.S., M.A.) University of Michigan Law School |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | Vermont National Guard United States Army |
| Years of service | 1899-1908 1915-1923 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Pancho Villa Expedition World War I |
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ernest W. Gibson was born in Londonderry, Vermont, on December 29, 1872. His parents were Saville (Stowell) and William L. Gibson. He went to local schools and graduated from Black River Academy in 1891. A famous classmate there was Calvin Coolidge, who later became a U.S. President.
Gibson then attended Norwich University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1894 and a Master of Arts degree in 1896. He was also a member of the Theta Chi fraternity. After college, he studied law with lawyers Eleazer L. Waterman and James Loren Martin. He also attended the University of Michigan Law School. In 1899, he was officially allowed to practice law, which is called being "admitted to the bar."
Starting His Career
From 1894 to 1898, Gibson worked as a high school principal in Chester. During this time, he also served as a Chester Village Trustee from 1895 to 1898.
After becoming a lawyer, Gibson practiced law in Brattleboro. He also held several public roles. He was the Register of Probate for Windham County and the Deputy Clerk for Vermont's United States District Court. From 1904 to 1911, he taught constitutional law at Norwich University.
In 1906, he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives. In 1908, he was elected to the Vermont State Senate. While in the State Senate, he served as the President pro tempore. This means he was a temporary presiding officer, similar to a vice-president for the Senate.
From 1906 to 1910, Gibson was a Municipal Court Judge in Brattleboro. In 1910, he tried to get the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor but was not successful.
Gibson became a key figure in the Progressive movement in Vermont. This movement led to a group within the Vermont Republican Party that was more liberal than the main party. Despite his progressive ideas, Gibson stayed loyal to the Republican Party. He worked to keep people with similar views within the party. In 1912, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention.
From 1919 to 1921, Gibson served as the State's Attorney for Windham County. In 1921, he was the Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs, which means he was a chief assistant to Governor James Hartness.
Military Service
Ernest Gibson had a notable military career. He served in the Vermont National Guard from 1899 to 1908. He started as a private and became an officer in 1901. From 1906 to 1908, he was on the staff of Governor Fletcher D. Proctor with the rank of colonel.
He returned to military service from 1915 to 1923. As a captain in the 1st Vermont Infantry Regiment, he took part in the Pancho Villa Expedition in 1915 and 1916.
Gibson also served in World War I. He was a captain and commander of Company I, 1st Vermont Infantry. This unit later became the 57th Pioneer Infantry Regiment. His unit went to France in September 1918. The war ended before his unit saw front-line combat. Gibson returned to the United States and was discharged in March 1919. He remained in the National Guard and retired as a colonel when he was elected to Congress.
Serving in Congress
In November 1923, Ernest Gibson was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He filled a vacant seat for Vermont's 2nd district. He was reelected several times and served from November 6, 1923, until October 19, 1933.
After the 1930 census, Vermont lost one of its House districts. In 1932, Gibson was elected to represent Vermont as an at-large Congressman, meaning he represented the entire state.
During his time in the House, Gibson led important committees. He was chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Treasury and the Committee on Territories.
United States Senate
In November 1933, Gibson was appointed to the United States Senate to fill a vacancy after Senator Porter H. Dale passed away. He was elected in 1934 to complete Dale's term. In 1938, he won election for a full six-year term. Gibson served in the Senate from November 21, 1933, until his death on June 20, 1940. He passed away in Washington, D.C., and was buried at Morningside Cemetery in Brattleboro.
Family Life
Ernest Gibson married Grace Fullerton Hadley on November 25, 1896. They had four children: Frank Hadley Gibson (1899–1922), Ernest William Gibson Jr. (1901–1969), Doris Gibson (1903–1947), and Preston Fullerton Gibson (1908–1955). Preston F. Gibson also became a lawyer and a municipal court judge in Brattleboro.
His son, Ernest W. Gibson Jr., temporarily took his father's place in the Senate. He later became the Governor of Vermont and a Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Vermont.
Ernest W. Gibson Jr.'s son, Ernest W. Gibson III, also became a judge, serving as an associate justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.
See also
- List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)
