Compiled by Russell Bastedo
State Curator
1998

Governor Ralph Metcalf 1855, 1856. Metcalf (1798-1858) was born at Charlestown (NH). He worked on the farm until he became lame; then he decided to become a professional man. His father gave Metcalf one hundred dollars; with that money he entered Chester (VT) academy, and then Dartmouth College (1819). He took himself out of college in 1821 to teach at Norwich (VT), but Metcalf rejoined his class in 1822 and graduated in 1823.

Metcalf read law for three years, He was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar in 1826. He practiced law first at Newport (NH, 1826-1828), then at Binghamton (NY, 1818-1830). He then returned to Claremont (NH), and entered state politics as Secretary of State (1831-1836).

Metcalf married (Lucretia Bingham, 1835; died 1836). Then he clerked for New Hampshire's Hon. Levi Woodbury, Secretary of the Treasury, at Washington, D.C. (1838-1840). Metcalf returned to practice law at Newport (NH, 1841-1845).

In 1845 Metcalf was appointed Register of Probate for Sullivan County (served 1845-1851). He was elected a State Representative (1852, 1853). Then, running as a Know-Nothing for governor in 1855, Metcalf defeated three candidates who combined might have beaten him. In 1856 the same thing happened: the closeness of the popular vote among three candidates threw the election into the House of Represent-atives, where the Know-Nothings controlled. Metcalf was reelected, 175 votes to 150.

The Know-Nothings were against continued immigration into the United States. Governor Metcalf campaigned against the public sale of liquor, and against Roman Catholicism, both immigrant issues. He retired in 1857, and died a year later.

Location: State House, Second Floor, Corridor, West Face, Beginning at Room 208
Portrait by A. Tenney; at State House by 1872