Patriot; born in
Lebanon, Conn., Oct. 12, 1710; graduated at Harvard College in 1727; preached a few years; studied law; and became
a member of Assembly at the age of twenty-three.
He was chosen lieutenant-governor in 1766, and became ex-officio
chief-justice of the Superior Court.
In 1768 he boldly refused to take the oath enjoined on officers of the crown, and in 1769 he was chosen governor.
He was the only conlonial governor who espoused the cause of the people in their struggle for justice and freedom.
In the absence in Congress of the Adamses and
Hancock from
New England,
Trumbull was considered the
Whig leader in that region, and
Washington always placed implicit reliance upon his patriotism and energy for support.
When
Washington took command of the
Continental army at
Cambridge, he found it in want of ammunition and other supplies, and this want continued, more or less, for months.
Trumbull was then governor of
Connecticut.
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|
The Trumbull House, 1850. |
On one occasion, at a council of war, when there seemed to be no way to make provision against an expected attack of the enemy, the
commander-in-chief said, “We must consult brother Jonathan on the subject.”
He did so, and the governor was successful in supplying many of the wants of the army.
When the army was afterwards spread over the country and difficulties arose, it was a common saying among the officers, as a by-word, “We must consult brother Jonathan.”
The origin of these words were soon lost sight
of, and “Brother Jonathan” became the title of our nationality, like that of “
John Bull” of
England.
He died in
Lebanon, Conn., Aug. 17, 1785.
Legislator; born in
Lebanon, Conn., March 26, 1740; son of
Governor Trumbull; graduated at
[
129]
Harvard College in 1759.
When the
Revolutionary War broke out, he was an active member of the Connecticut Assembly, and its speaker.
From 1775 to 1778 he was paymaster of the
Northern army; and in 1780 he was secretary and first aide to
Washington, remaining in the military family of the
commander-in-chief until the close of the war. He was a member of Congress from 1789 to 1795; speaker from 1791 to 1795;
United States Senator in 1795-96;
lieutenant-governor of
Connecticut in 1796; and governor from 1797 until his death in
Lebanon, Aug. 7, 1809.
Librarian; born in
Norwich, Conn., Jan. 23, 1844; received an academic education; member of the Connecticut Historical Society; president of the
Connecticut Society of the Sons of the
American Revolution.
He is the author of
The Lebanon War office;
The defamation of Revolutionary patriots: a vindication of General Israel Putnam;
Joseph Trumbull, first commissary-general of the Continental army;
The share of Connecticut in the Revolution, etc.
