Vermont's Republican Party, and was one of the handful of state chairmen who issued the call for the party's first national convention in 1856. Brainerd was a delegate, and called the convention to order as its temporary chairman. Brainerd died in St. Albans on May 9, 1870. He was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in St. Albans. Early life Brainerd was born in East Hartford, Connecticut on March 16, 1794, the fifth of thirteen children born to Ezra Brainerd and Mabel (Porter) Brainerd. In 1803, Brainerd went to Troy, New York to reside with his uncle, Joseph S. Brainerd. In 1808, they moved to St. Albans, Vermont. Brainerd was educated in Troy and St. Albans, and attended St. Albans Academy. He taught school for two years, then began a business career as a clerk in a St. Albans store. During the War of 1812, Brainerd served as a sergeant in Colonel Luther Dixon's Regiment of Vermont Militia. During the war, the area around St. Albans and Swanton was contested, with smugglers vying to move goods to the Canadian side of the border and militia patrols attempting to interdict their activities. In addition, British and Canadian forces raided northern Vermont several times during the war, and American soldiers and Vermont militia conducted raids on the Canadian side of the border. Brainerd continued his militia membership after the war and received a commission as a first lieutenant in 1st Artillery Company, 1st Regiment, 3rd Brigade. His membership in Vermont's militia continued for several years, and he was promoted to captain during his service. In 1816, Brainerd went into business as the owner of a store, and his venture proved successful. One his early efforts to expand his holdings included the purchase of 1,200 acres of swampland near Lake Champlain, which he drained, improved, and developed into a successful sheep farm. Brainerd continued to take part in successful business enterprises, frequently in partnership with John Smith and Smith's son J. Gregory Smith, including construction and operation of several railroads in Vermont and Canada that were combined to form the Central Vermont Railway. In addition, he was involved in ownership and operation of several banks, and became active in the transport of cargo on Lake Champlain as the owner and operator of several steamboats and steamships. Brainerd owned real estate throughout St. Albans, including farms where he raised horses. Because he was opposed to slavery,