William Cahoon (January 12, 1774 – May 30, 1833) was an American judge and politician. He served as a U.S. representative from Vermont for two terms from 1829 to 1833.

Biography

Cahoon was born in Providence in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations^[1] to Daniel Cahoon Jr (1737-1811) and Lillis (Dyer) Cahoon (1740-1832). He attended the common schools. He moved with his parents to Lyndon, Vermont, in 1791 and engaged in milling and agricultural pursuits.

Political career

He was a member of the Vermont State House of Representatives from 1802 until 1810.^[2] He succeeded his father as town clerk in Lyndon, and served from 1808 until 1829.^[3][4]

Cahoon was a presidential elector in 1808 and voted for Madison and Langdon.^[5] He was appointed major general in the militia in 1808 and served during the War of 1812.^[6] From 1811 until 1819, Cahoon served as Caledonia County judge.^[7] He was a delegate to the Vermont State constitutional conventions in 1814 and 1828, and a member of the Vermont Governor's Council from 1815 until 1820.^[8]

From 1820 until 1821, Cahoon served as the Lieutenant Governor of Vermont.^[9] He was elected an Anti-Masonic candidate to the Twenty-first United States Congress and the Twenty-second United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1829, until March 3, 1833.^[10]

He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1832 for reelection to Congress.

Personal life

Cahoon had two sons, George C. Cahoon and Edward A. Cahoon. Edward was a Vermont State Senator.^[11]

Death

Cahoon died on May 30, 1833, in Lyndon, Vermont. He is interred at the Lyndon Town Cemetery in Lyndon Center.^[6]