Hosmer, Titus, 1736-1780

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>12/31/1777 CT Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
</ul>

Titus Hosmer was one of the foremost scholars, lawyers, and statesmen of his day. He was born in West Hartford, Connecticut. Being educated to the law, he soon acquired distinction and influence. he was elected a member of the council of state and of the national Congress, and then appointed a judge of the maritime court of appeals for the United States. He was the patron of Joel Barlow, the poet, whom he encouraged to publish the "Vision of Columbus." Mr. Hosmer died in middle life, in the full maturity of his powers~ shortly after he had seen the independence of his country established.

HOSMER, Titus, a Delegate from Connecticut; born in what is now West Hartford, Hartford County, Conn., in 1736; was graduated from Yale College in 1757; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1760 and commenced practice in Middletown, Conn.; held several local offices; member of the State house of representatives 1773-1778, serving as speaker in 1776 and 1778; member of the council of safety in 1776 and 1777; served in the State senate from May 1778 until his death; Member of the Continental Congress in 1778; resumed the practice of law; judge of the United States Maritime Court of Appeals in 1780; died in Middletown, Conn., August 4, 1780; interment in Mortimer Cemetery.

<p>Titus Hosmer (1736 – August 4, 1780) was an American Founding Father and lawyer from Middletown, Connecticut. He was a delegate for Connecticut to the Continental Congress in 1778, where he signed the Articles of Confederation.</p>

<p>Titus was born in West Hartford, Connecticut, attended Yale and graduated in 1757. He read for the law, was admitted to the bar, and began a practice in Middletown, Connecticut. Hosmer was elected to the Connecticut State Assembly annually from 1773 to 1778 and served as their speaker in 1777. In May 1778, he became a member of the State Senate and remained in that office until he died. Later in 1778, the joint state legislature sent him as one of their delegates to the Second Continental Congress. He was subsequently elected by the Continental Congress on January 22, 1780, to serve as a federal judge on the Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture.</p>

<p>Titus died at Middletown on August 4, 1780, of undisclosed causes, and is buried in the Mortimer Cemetery there. Joel Barlow, who received Hosmer's patronage, wrote a much-admired elegy on his death.</p>