Samuel Turell Armstrong

Who was Samuel Turell Armstrong?

Samuel Turell Armstrong was a U.S. political figure. Born in 1784 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, he was a printer and bookseller in Boston, specializing in religious materials. Among his works were an early stereotype edition of Scott's Family Bible, which was very popular, and The Panoplist, a religious magazine devoted to missionary interests.

Armstrong began to withdraw from the printing business in 1825, and focused instead on politics. He was active in Boston politics during the 1820s, twice winning a seat in the Massachusetts General Court. In 1833 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts as a Whig, and served three consecutive annual terms. For most of the last term he was Acting Governor after Governor John Davis resigned to take a seat in the United States Senate. He lost a bid to be elected governor in his own right in 1836, but was elected Mayor of Boston, a post he held for one year.