by the Federalists, but Adams was able to prevail by a comfortable margin. The campaign was not very divisive: Sumner was presented as comparatively youthful alternative to the aging Adams. Sumner wrote afterwards that Adams "has waded through a sea of political troubles and grown old in labors for the good of his country." Adams' popularity, however, was declining, and he decided not to run for reelection in 1797. A number of popular figures were raised as nominees, and in that year's election, Sumner won the vote with 15,000 out of a total of 25,000 votes cast against a divided opposition. On June 2 Sumner rode from his home in Roxbury accompanied by 300 citizens on horseback to the State House in Boston, where the Secretary of the Commonwealth proclaimed his governorship from the eastern balcony. Sumner was the last governor to preside in what is now called the Old State House as the seat of government was moved to the New State House the following year. Sumner was reelected in 1798 and 1799 against minimal opposition. His popularity as governor was seen by his garnering a larger share of the vote for his third term, where he won 17,000 out of 21,000 votes cast, receiving unanimous votes in 180 towns out of 393 in the state. During Sumner's period in office the state was principally preoccupied with the threat of attack by France as a result of the ongoing naval Quasi-War. Comparatively younger and more vigorous than his predecessors, Sumner actively built up the state militia and worked to ensure its preparedness in case of attack. Sumner never assumed the duties of office after winning the 1799 election as he was sick on his death bed at the time. In order to avoid constitutional issues surrounding the succession to the governor's office, he managed to take the oath of office in early June. He died in office from angina pectoris, aged 52 on June 7, 1799. His funeral, with full military honors, took place on June 12, and was attended by United States President John Adams. The funeral procession which included four regiments of militia ran from the governor's Roxbury mansion to a service at the Old South Meeting House. He is interred at the northerly corner of Boston's Granary Burying Ground. The brass epitaph indicates: Here repose the remains of Increase Sumner. He was born at Roxbury, November