Frederick Holbrook

Frederick Holbrook (February 15, 1813 – April 28, 1909) was an American farmer, businessman, and Governor of the State of Vermont. Active in politics and government, first as a Whig, and later as a Republican, he was most notable for his service as the 27th governor of Vermont from 1861 to 1863. A native of East Windsor, Connecticut, Holbrook was a son of Sarah (Knowlton) Holbrook and John Holbrook and a grandson of Luke Knowlton. He was raised in Vermont and educated at the Berkshire Gymnasium in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, then embarked on careers in farming and business as a resident of Brattleboro. Holbrook served briefly in the militia, and became active in local government as Register of Probate for the Marlboro District, an office he held from 1848 to 1861. He represented Windham County in the Vermont Senate from 1849 to 1850. Holbrook became a Republican when the party was founded in the mid-1850s. In 1861 he was the party's successful nominee for governor. He was reelected in 1862 and served from October 1861 to October 1863. As the state's chief executive in the middle of the American Civil War, Holbrook oversaw Vermont's contribution to the Union effort, including raising more than ten Infantry regiments for the Union Army. In keeping with the Republican "Mountain Rule", Holbrook was not a candidate for reelection in 1863. After leaving the governorship, Holbrook declined to be a candidate for any other office and returned to his Brattleboro farming and business interests, including serving as president of the Vermont Savings Bank and president of the Vermont Asylum for the Insane's board of trustees. He died in Brattleboro on April 28, 1909. Holbrook was buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Brattleboro.