Thomas Chittenden (January 6, 1730 – August 25, 1797) was an American politician from Vermont, who was a leader of the territory for nearly two decades. He was the state's first and third governor, serving from 1778 to 1789—when it was a largely unrecognized independent state called the Vermont Republic—and again from 1790 until his death. Vermont was admitted to the Union in 1791 as its 14th state.
Thomas Chittenden was born in East Guilford in the Connecticut Colony on January 6, 1730. He lost one of his eyes and was referred to as "one eye Tom" by his opponents.[1] He married Elizabeth Meigs on October 4, 1749, in Salisbury, Connecticut. They had four sons and six daughters while they were living in Connecticut, all of whom survived to adulthood.
Careeredit
Chittenden served as a justice of the peace and in the Connecticut Colonial Assembly from 1765 to 1769.[1] He served in Connecticut's 14th Regiment of Militia from 1767 to 1773, rising to the rank of colonel.
Chittenden was a delegate to the 1777 constitutional convention that established Vermont's constitution and drafted its Declaration of Independence. Chittenden was selected as governor of the Vermont Republic on March 12, 1778, by the legislature and Joseph Marsh was selected as lieutenant governor.[3]
During the American Revolution, Chittenden was a member of a committee empowered to negotiate with the Continental Congress to allow Vermont to join the Union. The Congress deferred the matter to avoid antagonizing the states of New York and New Hampshire, which had competing claims against Vermont. During the period of the Vermont Republic, Chittenden served as governor from 1778 to 1789 and 1790 to 1791, and was one of the participants in a series of delicate negotiations with British authorities in Quebec over the possibility of establishing Vermont as a British province.[4]
After Vermont entered the federal Union in 1791 as its 14th state, Chittenden continued as governor until his death in 1797.[5]
Deathedit
Chittenden died in Williston on August 25, 1797, and is interred at Thomas Chittenden Cemetery, Williston, Chittenden County, Vermont. Citing Vermont's tumultuous founding, his epitaph reads: "Out of storm and manifold perils rose an enduring state, the home of freedom and unity."[6]
Legacy and honorsedit
In 1894, a monument to Chittenden was begun at the entrance to the cemetery in Williston which is named for him; it was dedicated in 1896.[7] An engraved portrait of Chittenden can be found just outside the entrance to the Executive Chamber, the ceremonial office of the governor, at the Vermont State House at Montpelier.[8] The portrait is based on a likeness of one of Chittenden's grandsons, who was believed to resemble Chittenden.[8] In the late 1990s, a bronze sculpture of Chittenden, which was created by Frank Gaylord, was placed on the grounds of the State House near the building's west entrance.[9] Another Chittenden statue, also created by Gaylord, was erected in front of the Williston Central School.[7]Chittenden County is named for him,[10] as is the town of Chittenden in Rutland County.[11]
^Smallwood, Frank (1997). Thomas Chittenden : Vermont's first statesman. Shelburne, Vt.: New England Press. p. 108. ISBN1-881535-28-2. OCLC 37966532.
^. National Governors Association. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
^Morrissey, Charles T. (1984). Vermont: A History. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company. p. 32. ISBN978-0-393-34871-2.
^ abBaynes, Luke (January 10, 2013). "Celebrating Williston's 250th Anniversary: The Thomas Chittenden Connection". Williston Observer. Williston, VT.
^ abKelley, Kevin J. (May 5, 2010). "Portrait of a State: A walk through the "people's house" is a lesson in art history". Vermont Seven Days. Burlington, VT.
^CB (November 4, 2019). "Bronze Sculpture Conservation in Montpelier". Arts Management Services.org. Montpelier, VT: Arts Management Services.
^Gannett, Henry; Beck, Jürgen (2018). Encyclopedia of Place Names in the United States. North Charleston, SC: CreateSpace. p. 72. ISBN978-3-8496-7510-3 – via Google Books.
^Chittenden Town Planning Commission (October 19, 2015). Town of Chittenden Municipal Plan(PDF). Chittenden, VT: Chittenden Select Board. p. 8.
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This article is about the first Governor of Vermont For the current state senator see Thomas Chittenden Vermont state senator For the U S Representative from New York see Thomas C Chittenden Thomas Chittenden January 6 1730 August 25 1797 was an American politician from Vermont who was a leader of the territory for nearly two decades He was the state s first and third governor serving from 1778 to 1789 when it was a largely unrecognized independent state called the Vermont Republic and again from 1790 until his death Vermont was admitted to the Union in 1791 as its 14th state Thomas ChittendenGovernor Thomas Chittenden presumed likeness 1st Governor of VermontIn office March 5 1791 August 25 1797LieutenantPaul BrighamPreceded byHimself as Governor of the Vermont Republic Succeeded byPaul Brigham1st amp 3rd Governor of the Vermont RepublicIn office October 20 1790 March 4 1791LieutenantPeter OlcottPreceded byMoses RobinsonSucceeded byHimself as Governor of the State of Vermont In office March 13 1778 October 13 1789LieutenantJoseph MarshPreceded byNoneSucceeded byMoses RobinsonMember of the Connecticut Colonial AssemblyIn office 1765 1769Personal detailsBorn 1730 01 06 January 6 1730East Guilford Colony of Connecticut British AmericaDiedAugust 25 1797 1797 08 25 aged 67 Williston Vermont U S Resting placeThomas Chittenden Cemetery Williston VermontPolitical partyNoneSpouseElizabeth Meigs Chittenden m 1749 1797 his death Children10 including MartinSignature Contents 1 Early and personal life 2 Career 3 Death 4 Legacy and honors 5 See also 6 References 7 Works cited 8 External linksEarly and personal life editThomas Chittenden was born in East Guilford in the Connecticut Colony on January 6 1730 He lost one of his eyes and was referred to as one eye Tom by his opponents 1 He married Elizabeth Meigs on October 4 1749 in Salisbury Connecticut They had four sons and six daughters while they were living in Connecticut all of whom survived to adulthood Career editChittenden served as a justice of the peace and in the Connecticut Colonial Assembly from 1765 to 1769 1 He served in Connecticut s 14th Regiment of Militia from 1767 to 1773 rising to the rank of colonel Chittenden was one of the residents of Salisbury Connecticut who purchased land from the Onion River Land Company ran by Ethan Allen Ira Allen Heman Allen and Remember Baker 2 Chittenden moved to the New Hampshire Grants now Vermont in 1774 where he was the first settler in the town of Williston Chittenden was a delegate to the 1777 constitutional convention that established Vermont s constitution and drafted its Declaration of Independence Chittenden was selected as governor of the Vermont Republic on March 12 1778 by the legislature and Joseph Marsh was selected as lieutenant governor 3 During the American Revolution Chittenden was a member of a committee empowered to negotiate with the Continental Congress to allow Vermont to join the Union The Congress deferred the matter to avoid antagonizing the states of New York and New Hampshire which had competing claims against Vermont During the period of the Vermont Republic Chittenden served as governor from 1778 to 1789 and 1790 to 1791 and was one of the participants in a series of delicate negotiations with British authorities in Quebec over the possibility of establishing Vermont as a British province 4 After Vermont entered the federal Union in 1791 as its 14th state Chittenden continued as governor until his death in 1797 5 Death editChittenden died in Williston on August 25 1797 and is interred at Thomas Chittenden Cemetery Williston Chittenden County Vermont Citing Vermont s tumultuous founding his epitaph reads Out of storm and manifold perils rose an enduring state the home of freedom and unity 6 Legacy and honors editIn 1894 a monument to Chittenden was begun at the entrance to the cemetery in Williston which is named for him it was dedicated in 1896 7 An engraved portrait of Chittenden can be found just outside the entrance to the Executive Chamber the ceremonial office of the governor at the Vermont State House at Montpelier 8 The portrait is based on a likeness of one of Chittenden s grandsons who was believed to resemble Chittenden 8 In the late 1990s a bronze sculpture of Chittenden which was created by Frank Gaylord was placed on the grounds of the State House near the building s west entrance 9 Another Chittenden statue also created by Gaylord was erected in front of the Williston Central School 7 Chittenden County is named for him 10 as is the town of Chittenden in Rutland County 11 See also editVermont Republic Constitution of Vermont List of governors of VermontReferences edit a b Doyle 1992 p 30 Doyle 1992 p 7 8 Doyle 1992 p 29 30 Smallwood Frank 1997 Thomas Chittenden Vermont s first statesman Shelburne Vt New England Press p 108 ISBN 1 881535 28 2 OCLC 37966532 Thomas Chittenden National Governors Association Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Retrieved October 24 2012 Morrissey Charles T 1984 Vermont A History New York NY W W Norton amp Company p 32 ISBN 978 0 393 34871 2 a b Baynes Luke January 10 2013 Celebrating Williston s 250th Anniversary The Thomas Chittenden Connection Williston Observer Williston VT a b Kelley Kevin J May 5 2010 Portrait of a State A walk through the people s house is a lesson in art history Vermont Seven Days Burlington VT CB November 4 2019 Bronze Sculpture Conservation in Montpelier Arts Management Services org Montpelier VT Arts Management Services Gannett Henry Beck Jurgen 2018 Encyclopedia of Place Names in the United States North Charleston SC CreateSpace p 72 ISBN 978 3 8496 7510 3 via Google Books Chittenden Town Planning Commission October 19 2015 Town of Chittenden Municipal Plan PDF Chittenden VT Chittenden Select Board p 8 Works cited editDoyle William 1992 The Vermont Political Tradition And Those Who Helped Make It ISBN 0961548614 External links editThomas Chittenden at Find a Grave Vermont Governor Thomas Chittenden National Governors AssociationPolitical officesPreceded byOffice established Governor of Vermont1791 1797 Succeeded byPaul Brigham Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Chittenden amp oldid 1166569786, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
