Langdon, John (1741-1819), was a New Hampshire signer of the Constitution of the United States. He actively represented his state at the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and spoke in favor of a strong national government on numerous occasions. Langdon later helped win ratification (approval) of the Constitution by New Hampshire.
Langdon was born on June 26, 1741, near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Before the Revolutionary War in America (1775-1783), he was a successful ship captain and merchant. During the war, Langdon represented New Hampshire in the Second Continental Congress and was speaker of the New Hampshire legislature. He also built ships for the Continental Navy. Langdon served as chief executive of New Hampshire in 1785, 1786, 1788, and 1789. From 1789 to 1801, Langdon served as a U.S. senator. He then returned to state politics. Langdon acted as speaker of the New Hampshire legislature from 1803 to 1805. He was governor of New Hampshire from 1805 to 1809 and from 1810 to 1812. Langdon died on Sept. 18, 1819.
