Roger Sherman Baldwin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roger Sherman Baldwin
32nd Governor of Connecticut
In office May 1, 1844 – May 6, 1846
Lieutenant	Reuben Booth
Preceded by	Chauncey Fitch Cleveland
Succeeded by	Isaac Toucey
United States Senator from Connecticut
In office November 11, 1847 – March 3, 1851
Preceded by	Jabez W. Huntington
Succeeded by	Isaac Toucey
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
In office 1837-1838
Personal details
Born	(1793-01-04)January 4, 1793 New Haven, Connecticut
Died	February 19, 1863(1863-02-19) (aged 70) New Haven, Connecticut
Political party	Whig Republican
Spouse	Emily Pitkin Perkins ​ (m. 1820)​
Children	9, incl. Simeon Eben Baldwin
Alma mater	Yale College Litchfield Law School

Roger Sherman Baldwin (born January 4, 1793 – died February 19, 1863) was an important American politician. He served as the 32nd Governor of Connecticut from 1844 to 1846. Later, he became a United States Senator from 1847 to 1851.

Baldwin was also a very skilled lawyer. He is most famous for his work on the 1841 Amistad case. This case involved a group of Africans who fought for their freedom.

Early Life and Education

Roger Sherman Baldwin was born in New Haven, Connecticut. His father was Simeon Baldwin and his mother was Rebecca Sherman. His grandfather was Roger Sherman, a famous founding father of the U.S. Roger Sherman was the only person to sign four important U.S. documents. These were the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution.

Roger Sherman Baldwin went to Hopkins School. He then entered Yale College when he was just 14 years old. He graduated with high honors in 1811. While at Yale, Baldwin was part of the Linonian Society.

After college, he studied law in his father's office. He also attended the Litchfield Law School. He became a lawyer in 1814. He was known for being very good at discussing legal questions.

The Amistad Case

One of Baldwin's most famous cases was the 1841 Amistad case. This case was about a group of Africans who were kidnapped and brought to America on a ship called La Amistad. They rebelled and took control of the ship.

Baldwin defended their rights in court. He argued that they were free people who had been illegally captured. The case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Baldwin's strong defense helped these Africans win their freedom. This case was very important for human rights.

Roger Sherman Baldwin's notebooks about the Amistad case, 1840. These are kept at Yale University Archives.

Political Career and Public Service

Roger Sherman Baldwin held several public offices during his life. He was a member of the New Haven city government in 1826 and 1828.

He was elected to the Connecticut State Senate in 1837 and 1838. In 1840 and 1841, he represented New Haven in the General Assembly.

Governor of Connecticut

Baldwin was elected Governor of Connecticut in 1844. He was re-elected in 1845. During his time as governor, he tried to end slavery in Connecticut.

He proposed a law to stop slavery in 1844. The Connecticut General Assembly did not pass it then. However, a similar law called "An Act to Prevent Slavery" was passed in 1848.

United States Senator

In 1847, Baldwin was appointed to the United States Senate. He filled a vacancy after Senator Jabez W. Huntington passed away. He officially took his seat in December of that year.

He was later elected by the Legislature to the same position. He served as a U.S. Senator until 1851.

Later Public Roles

After 1851, Baldwin did not hold many public offices. He was a presidential elector in 1860. This meant he helped choose the president.

In 1861, he was a delegate to the Peace Convention in Washington. This meeting was held to try and prevent the American Civil War.

Roger Sherman Baldwin was known as a very religious person. He studied the Bible every day. He passed away in New Haven on February 19, 1863, at the age of 70. He was buried at Grove Street Cemetery.

Family Connections

Roger Sherman Baldwin came from a notable family.

• He was the grandson of Roger Sherman.
• He was the son of Simeon Baldwin.
• He was the husband of Emily Pitkin Perkins.
• He was the father of Simeon Eben Baldwin, who also became a Governor of Connecticut.
• His grandson was Edward Baldwin Whitney, a New York Supreme Court Justice.
• His great-grandson was Hassler Whitney, a famous math professor at Princeton University.

In Popular Culture

The story of the Amistad case was made into a movie. The film, called Amistad, came out in 1997. In the movie, actor Matthew McConaughey played the role of Roger Sherman Baldwin.

In Greenwich, Connecticut, there is a park named after him. It is called Roger Sherman Baldwin Park.