Foster, Abiel, 1735-1806

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li> 08/25/1800 NH At-Large Won 19.32% (+1.67%)</li>
<li> 08/27/1798 NH At-Large Won 24.23% (+2.62%)</li>
<li> 08/29/1796 NH At-Large Won 24.30% (+0.00%)</li>
<li> 12/08/1794 NH At-Large - Runoff Won 82.68% (+65.37%)</li>
<li> 08/25/1794 NH At-Large Lost 12.33% (-10.40%)</li>
<li> 11/03/1792 NH US Senate Lost 1.12% (-57.30%)</li>
<li> 08/27/1792 NH At-Large Lost 8.17% (-14.10%)</li>
<li> 08/30/1790 NH At-Large Lost 8.50% (-16.61%)</li>
<li> 06/22/1789 NH At-Large - Special Won 59.26% (+41.59%)</li>
<li> 02/02/1789 NH At-Large Lost 19.45% (-13.53%)</li>
<li> 12/15/1788 NH At-Large - Initial Election Won 8.31% (-6.85%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1784 NH Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1783 NH Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1782 NH Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1778 NH Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1777 NH Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li> 12/31/1776 NH Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
</ul>
<ul><b>SPECULATIVE, DID NOT RUN</b>
<li> 08/30/1802 NH At-Large - Special Election Won 0.00% (-41.05%)</li>
<li> 10/27/1800 NH At-Large - Special Runoff Won 0.00% (-29.21%)</li>
<li> 11/18/1799 NH At-Large - Special Election Won 0.00% (-13.89%)</li>
<li> 10/30/1797 NH At-Large - Special Runoff Won 0.00% (-33.45%)</li>
<li> 11/07/1796 NH At-Large - 2nd Trial Won 0.00% (-27.49%)</li>
</ul>

<p>Abiel Foster (August 8, 1735 – February 6, 1806) was an American clergyman and politician from Canterbury, Province of New Hampshire. He represented New Hampshire in the Continental Congress and the U.S. Congress.</p>

<p>Foster was born in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1735, the son of Captain Asa Foster of Colonel Ebenezer Colonial Regiment and Elizabeth Abbot. A relative of Jedediah Foster, a judge, American Revolutionary and Harvard Law graduate (1744), the first member of the Foster family in America to receive a "liberal education". Abiel Foster was inspired to follow in the footsteps of Jedediah and entered Harvard College, receiving a Bachelors degree in 1756. After studying in theology, he was ordained as a pastor in Canterbury, January 26, 1761, he married Hanna Badger in that year. He served as pastor in Canterbury until 1779. At that time Abiel Foster retired to private life but would not be long before he returned to public service. During his 18 years as Minister of Canterbury he built trust with the people and he was appointed to the General Court. During his life Abiel Foster held "various offices of trust and honour with reputation to himself and usefulness to the community.</p>

<p>Abiel Foster served in Congress under first President of the United States George Washington and 2nd President John Adams, while working with the Founding Fathers of the United States, to help build a functioning federal government.</p>

FOSTER, Abiel, a Delegate and a Representative from New Hampshire; born in Andover, Mass., August 8, 1735; was graduated from Harvard College in 1756; studied theology; was ordained and installed as pastor in Canterbury, N.H., in 1761 and served until 1779; deputy to the Provincial Congress at Exeter in 1775; Member of the Continental Congress 1783-1785; judge of the court of common pleas of Rockingham County 1784-1788; elected as a Pro-Administration candidate to the First Congress (March 4, 1789-March 3, 1791); member of the State senate 1791-1794, and served as its president in 1793; elected as a Federalist to the Fourth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1795-March 3, 1803); died in Canterbury, N.H., February 6, 1806; interment in Center Cemetery.