Republicans Celebrate Party's Birth in Exeter

The Exeter Republican Town Committee held a 160th birthday celebration of the GOP Saturday at Town Hall.

Amos Tuck is credited with founding the Republican party during a meeting on Oct. 12, 1853 at Major Blake's Hotel in Exeter.

Below is a recap of the event from Fran Wendelboe:

In the mid-19th Century, Exeter resident, Amos Tuck, was determined to unite the various anti-slavery political factions into a force that could win elections. Ultimately, Tuck would invite thirteen other political leaders to a meeting in Exeter. The invitation for the meeting in the Major Blake Hotel on October 12, 1853 stated the meeting’s purpose as “harmonizing the different party organizations whereby a more united cooperation can be secured and the four parties may pull together under one title of organization.” It was at this meeting that Tuck suggested they call themselves Republicans.

Brian Griset, the Chair of the Exeter Republican Committee, along with the Seacoast Republican Women and the Rockingham County Republican Committee have sponsored a yearlong series of meetings and events around the anniversary of the birth of the Republican Party in Exeter. The night was the culmination of these events with a program and “birthday cake” at the Exeter Town Hall.

The event was kicked off by Exeter Selectman Frank Ferraro who presented a Selectmen’s Proclamation commemorating the event. Rogers Johnson of Stratham spoke about the GOP’s leadership in the  civil rights movement and Leann Moccia spoke about the Republican Party’s lead in the fight for women’s right to vote. Brian Griset spoke about the history of the founding of the GOP and Representative Regina Birdsell gave concluding remarks.  Nine Republicans representing diverse ideology symbolically cut the cake.

Exeter is blessed with many historic structures, and indeed fortunate that the birthplace of the Republican Party, as well as other buildings associated with these events,  still stand today. The Major Blake Hotel, on the corner of Front and Court Streets, today functions as an office building. The First Parish Church where Tuck and friends held the 1845 Convention in now known as the Congregational Church of Exeter, located directly across the street from the Major Blake Hotel. Perhaps the most well known landmark, the Exeter Town Hall, is associated with the most famous Republican. In that fine old building, in March of 1860, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech to the assembled crowd.