United States Constitution Signer, U.S. Senator, New Hampshire Governor. A native of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, he became a successful international merchant, acquiring a fleet of ships to conduct business in both London, England. and the Caribbean. Great Britain's tax policies hurt his shipping business and his colony's economy, compelling the businessman to enter politics. He served on several local committees and patriot assemblies designed to monitor British governance and enhance communication between the colonies. In 1774, he led a group of men in confiscating ammunition from a British fort after King George III outlawed the exporting of gunpowder and weapons to America. This is considered the first overt act of the Revolutionary movement. From 1775 to 1776, he served in the Continental Congress before resigning to return to New Hampshire to oversee the building of three frigates to be used in the Patriot cause. Although giving up his Congressional seat, he remained in public service by serving in the New Hampshire Legislature upon his return home. Reportedly, in 1777, after a British victory at Ticonderoga, the statesman pledged his wealth to help the cash-strapped colony put together an army to defend against a possible enemy invasion. He returned to the Continental Congress in 1787 and soon found himself in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a delegate at the new nation's Constitutional Convention. He supported the proceedings there, seeing the need for a stronger federal government and returned to New Hampshire to work towards the document's ratification. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, making the Constitution law. Later that year, he was elected to the United States Senate. The Senate elected Langdon as its President where, in this role, he counted the electoral votes of the first national election. He was given the honor of letting George Washington know of his election to the Presidency and, on April 30, 1789, he administered the oath of office to the nation's first President. He resigned his Senate seat in 1801 and returned to the New Hampshire State Legislature, serving from 1801 to 1805, before serving six terms as Governor during the period spanning 1805 to 1811. In 1812, he refused the Republican nomination for Vice President of the United States, choosing instead to retire from public service. Seven years later he died in his hometown of Portsmouth. His cenotaph is here