1856 Vermont gubernatorial election

{{short description|none}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 1856 Vermont gubernatorial election

| country = Vermont

| flag_year = 1837

| type = presidential

| election_date = {{Start date|1856|09|02}}

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1855 Vermont gubernatorial election

| previous_year = 1855

| next_election = 1857 Vermont gubernatorial election

| next_year = 1857

| image1 = 100px

| party1 = Republican Party (United States)

| nominee1 = Ryland Fletcher

| popular_vote1 = 34,052

| percentage1 = 74.0%

| image2 =

| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)

| nominee2 = Henry Keyes

| popular_vote2 = 11,661

| percentage2 = 25.4%

| map_image = 1856 Vermont gubernatorial election results map by county.svg

| map_size = 220px

| map_caption = County results
Fletcher: {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#C21B18|80–90%}}

| title = Governor

| before_election = Stephen Royce

| before_party = Republican Party (United States)

| after_election = Ryland Fletcher

| after_party = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{ElectionsVT}}

The 1856 Vermont gubernatorial election for governor of Vermont was held on Tuesday, September 2.{{cite news |date=August 30, 1856 |title=Vermont State Election |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68119020/state-election/ |work=Vermont Phoenix |location=Brattleboro, VT |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} In keeping with the "Mountain Rule", incumbent Republican Stephen Royce was not a candidate for a third one-year term.{{cite magazine |last=Hand |first=Samuel B. |date=2003 |title=Mountain Rule Revisited |url=https://vermonthistory.org/journal/71/vt713_401.pdf |magazine=Vermont History |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Vermont Historical Society |pages=140, 143}} The Republican nomination was won by Ryland Fletcher, the incumbent lieutenant governor.{{cite news |date=July 4, 1856 |title=Republican Nominations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68117863/republican-nominations/ |work=Vermont Republican |location=Brattleboro, VT |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} The Democratic nominee was Henry Keyes, a former member of the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont Senate.{{cite news |date=August 7, 1856 |title=Democratic State Nominations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68117986/democratic-nominations/ |work=Burlington Weekly Sentinel |location=Burlington, VT |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Vermont continued its strong support for abolitionism and Republicans, and Fletcher was easily elected to succeed Royce.{{cite book |last=Armstrong |first=Howard E. |author-link=Howard E. Armstrong |date=1955 |title=Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfXvAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA273 |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |page=273 |via=Google Books}} Fletcher took the oath of office for a one-year term that began on October 17.{{cite news |date=October 17, 1856 |title=Inauguration of the Governor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68118693/inauguration-governor/ |work=Vermont Patriot and State Gazette |location=Montpelier, VT |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}