Pitkin, Timothy, 1766-1847

Timothy Pitkin (1766-1847), American statesman, economist, and historian. He was a member of Connecticut house of representatives in 1790, 1792, and 1794-1805, serving as clerk of the house 1800-1802 and as speaker 1803-1805. In 1805, he was elected as a Federalist, to the Ninth Congress; he retained the seat in the next six congresses. While in Congress, Pitkin did extensive research on the economic impact of Republican foreign policy. The results of his research were published in A Statistical View of the Commerce of the United States of America (1816). A staunch Federalist and defender of the Congregational Church establishment, Pitkin was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1818. Having taken part in the convention that framed the new constitution of Connecticut, he resumed the practice of law and engaged in literary work. In 1819, he was again elected to the State House of Representatives; he served until 1830. He continued to study history, economics, and theology, and in 1828 published A Political and Civil History of the United States of America.

John T. Norton was Timothy Pitkin's son-in-law.