Ernest W. Gibson

Ernest W. Gibson
United States Senator from Vermont
In office November 21, 1933 – June 20, 1940
Preceded by	Porter H. Dale
Succeeded by	Ernest W. Gibson Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont
In office November 6, 1923 – October 19, 1933
Preceded by	Porter H. Dale
Succeeded by	Charles A. Plumley
Constituency	2nd district (1923–1933) At-large district (1933)
President pro tempore of the Vermont Senate
In office 1908–1910
Preceded by	William J. Van Patten
Succeeded by	Max L. Powell
Member of the Vermont Senate from Windham County
In office 1908–1910 Serving with George H. Gorham
Preceded by	Charles S. Chase, Brigham T. Phelps
Succeeded by	Edwin P. Adams, Edgar M. Butler
Judge of the Brattleboro, Vermont Municipal Court
In office December 20, 1906 – December 1, 1910
Preceded by	None (position created)
Succeeded by	Kittredge Haskins
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from Brattleboro
In office 1906–1908
Preceded by	Clarke C. Fitts
Succeeded by	Herbert G. Barber
Personal details
Born	Ernest Willard Gibson (1871-12-29)December 29, 1871 Londonderry, Vermont, U.S.
Died	June 20, 1940(1940-06-20) (aged 68) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Grace Fullerton Hadley[1]
Children	4, including Ernest W. Gibson Jr.
Alma mater	Norwich University (B.S., M.A.) University of Michigan Law School
Profession	Lawyer
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	Vermont National Guard United States Army
Years of service	1899-1908 1915-1923
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	Pancho Villa Expedition World War I

Ernest Willard Gibson (December 29, 1871 – June 20, 1940) was an American politician and lawyer from Vermont. A Republican, he served in both the United States House of Representatives (1923-1933) and United States Senate (1933-1940).

A native of Londonderry, Vermont, Gibson graduated from Black River Academy (1891) and Norwich University (BS, 1894, MA, 1896). From 1894 to 1898, Gibson was principal of the high school in Chester, Vermont. While working as a principal, Gibson studied law with Eleazer L. Waterman and James Loren Martin attended the University of Michigan Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1899 and began to practice in Brattleboro.

Gibson gained his initial political experience as a Chester Village Trustee (1895 to 1898). While practicing law, he served as Windham County Register of Probate and Deputy Clerk of Vermont's United States District Court. He subsequently won terms in the Vermont House of Representatives (1906) and Vermont Senate (1908). During his State Senate term, Gibson was the body's President pro tempore. Gibson served as judge of Brattleboro's Municipal Court from 1906 to 1910.

From 1899 to 1908 Gibson served in the Vermont National Guard. Enlisting as a private, he received his commission as an officer in 1901. From 1906 to 1908 he served on the staff of Governor Fletcher D. Proctor with the rank of colonel. He served again from 1915 to 1923 and took part in the Pancho Villa Expedition after Joining the 1st Vermont Infantry Regiment as a captain. During World War I, Gibson was commander of Company I, 1st Vermont Infantry, which was later federalized as the 57th Pioneer Infantry Regiment. Gibson remained in the National Guard after the war, and retired as a colonel after he won a seat in the U.S. House.

In 1912, Gibson became a leader of the Progressive movement in Vermont, but remained loyal to the Republican Party, which enabled him to serve as a bridge between the two groups. He served as Windham County State's Attorney from 1919 until 1921 and was Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs (chief assistant) at the start of Governor James Hartness's term in 1921. In November 1923, Gibson was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Vermont's 2nd district. He continued to win reelection until 1932 when the 2nd District was eliminated and Vermont became one at-large district, Gibson was elected to represent it. After the 1933 death of Senator Porter H. Dale, Gibson was appointed to fill the vacancy. He was elected in 1934 to complete Dale's term, and in 1938 won election to a full six-year term. Gibson served in the Senate until his death. Gibson was buried at Morningside Cemetery in Brattleboro.