Samuel Turell Armstrong

Samuel Turell Armstrong
Born	Template:Birth date Dorchester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	March 26, 1850(1850-03-26) (aged 65) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Printer, bookseller, politician
Years active	1800s–1850
Known for	Acting Governor of Massachusetts, Mayor of Boston, publishing early stereotype edition of Scott's Family Bible

Samuel Turell Armstrong (April 29, 1784 – March 26, 1850) was a prominent American political leader. Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1784, he established himself in Boston as a printer and bookseller with a focus on religious publications. Among his notable achievements was producing an early stereotype edition of Scott's Family Bible, which gained widespread popularity, as well as publishing The Panoplist, a magazine centered on missionary work.

Armstrong gradually stepped back from the printing trade starting in 1825 to devote himself to public service. Throughout the 1820s, he engaged actively in Boston’s political scene, securing election twice to the Massachusetts General Court. In 1833, running as a Whig, he became lieutenant governor of Massachusetts and served three consecutive terms. During most of his final term, he acted as governor following John Davis's resignation to join the U.S. Senate. Although unsuccessful in his 1836 gubernatorial campaign, Armstrong was elected Mayor of Boston that same year, serving a one-year term.

Printer and bookseller

Samuel Armstrong entered the world on April 29, 1784, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, born to John and Elizabeth (Williams) Armstrong. After losing his father at age ten and his mother three years later, he commenced an apprenticeship with Manning and Loring—renowned bookbinders and printers regarded as Boston’s leading printers at the time. Upon completing his apprenticeship, Armstrong partnered with another printer to open a shop in Boston before eventually launching his own establishment in Charlestown.

In 1807, Armstrong joined the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts and was appointed its first sergeant by 1811. He also commanded the Warren Phalanx of Charlestown from 1811 through 1814.

Returning to Boston in 1811, he set up a bookshop on Cornhill specializing primarily in religious literature. His publishing endeavors included The Panoplist, a magazine dedicated to missionary subjects. Additionally, he gained recognition for producing the first stereotype edition of Scott's Family Bible—a highly sought-after publication that sold tens of thousands of copies. Armstrong’s shop also served as a venue for church-related events and fundraising efforts supporting foreign missions.

During his time in Boston, Armstrong mentored apprentices such as Uriel Crocker and Osmyn Brewster. When their apprenticeships concluded in 1818, he entrusted them with managing the printing operation—later known as Crocker & Brewster—while concentrating on his bookshop activities. By 1825, Armstrong withdrew from daily business management but maintained financial involvement until 1840 and retained personal interest until his passing. The enterprise proved financially lucrative, contributing significantly to Armstrong’s wealth.

Church and politics

Armstrong was affiliated with the Old South Church, where he took an active role by serving on its vestry, including holding the position of secretary, and was appointed deacon in 1829. Upon the church's formal incorporation in 1844, Armstrong was designated as one of its proprietors. In 1816, he uncovered the original manuscript of the third volume of colonial Governor John Winthrop's History of New England within the church tower; this volume was subsequently donated to the Massachusetts Historical Society. Armstrong also played a role in the church losing a pristine copy of the 17th century Bay Psalm Book, one of five copies bequeathed to the congregation by Thomas Prince, an early minister there. According to writer Robert Wallace, Armstrong's decision to exchange two copies of the book for offers from George Livermore and Edward Crowninshield—both experienced in rare book collecting—to rebind the remaining copies, was naïve and effectively a scheme by Livermore and Crowninshield to acquire these valuable items at a low cost.

File:Armstrong ScottBible.png

Title page of an 1827 edition of Armstrong's printing of Scott's Bible

Armstrong's engagement in public service began as early as 1812 when he participated in a Boston militia unit during the War of 1812. He later entered state politics as a representative in the Massachusetts General Court (state legislature), holding office from 1822 to 1823 and again from 1828 to 1829. Between 1828 and 1830, he served on Boston’s board of aldermen. In 1833, Armstrong was nominated for lieutenant governor by the state’s Anti-Masonic Party, but he declined because he did not agree with their stance calling for the abolition of Freemasonry. Nevertheless, he was elected lieutenant governor on the Whig ticket, serving under Governors Levi Lincoln Jr. and later John Davis. During the 1834 campaign, Whig newspapers highlighted his working-class background to attract voters from the Working Men's Party, a labor-focused third party, describing him as "a Mechanic and Workingman".

Following Davis’s resignation in March 1835 due to his election to the United States Senate, Armstrong assumed the role of Acting Governor until 1836. In that year’s election cycle, Armstrong sought the Whig nomination for governor but lost to Edward Everett, who was favored for his appeal to Anti-Masonic supporters. As a result, Armstrong ran independently without party endorsement, finishing a distant third behind Everett and long-time Democratic contender Marcus Morton.

After his statewide defeat, Armstrong was elected Mayor of Boston in December 1835. During his one-year tenure, his major civic contribution involved overseeing the installation of iron fencing around the Boston Common and expanding the walkway along Boylston Street. Although these projects had been planned under former Mayor Theodore Lyman, Armstrong supervised their execution and managed relocating graves affected by construction in the Central Burying Ground. Despite some objections from families involved, he successfully arranged for free granite tombs to be provided to those impacted.

In 1839 Armstrong secured election to the Massachusetts Senate, serving a single term. He became a member of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society in 1845 and remained engaged with it until his death. Passing away in Boston in 1850, he was laid to rest at Cambridge’s Mount Auburn Cemetery. In his personal life, he married Abigail Walker from Charlestown in 1812; they did not have children.

See also

• Boston Timeline, 1830s

References

• (comprehensive five-volume history of Massachusetts through early 20th century)

Further reading

• Armstrong, Samuel T., detailed in volume 1, page 139 of BDA1906
• Rollo G. Silver, "Belcher & Armstrong Establish Their Business: 1805," featured in Studies in Bibliography, volume 4 (1951–1952), pages 201–204