Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809

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Jonathan Trumbull Jr. (March 26, 1740 – August 7, 1809) was an American politician who served as the 20th governor of Connecticut and the second Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Trumbull was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, the second son of Jonathan Trumbull Sr. (the eventual Governor of Connecticut) and his wife Faith Robinson, daughter of Rev. John Robinson. Trumbull graduated from Harvard College in 1759, and gave the valedictory address when he received his master's degree in 1762. His brother John Trumbull was a noted painter of the Revolution.

Carrying on the family's tradition of public service, Trumbull began with town and colony offices: lister, grand juror, surveyor of highways, justice of the peace, and selectman. In 1774 he was elected deputy, the first of seven terms representing Lebanon. He served in the state legislature three times; from 1774 to 1775, from 1779 to 1780, and in 1788, serving as Speaker of the House in 1788.

Trumbull served in the Continental Army as paymaster general of the Northern Department from July 28, 1775 to July 29, 1778. In February 1781, he was given the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was included in the general orders of June 8, 1781: "Jonathan Trumbull. Esqr., Junior, is appointed Secretary to the Commander in Chief and to be respected accordingly." He served for the duration of the war as aide-de-camp to General George Washington until December 28, 1783. After the war, he became an original member of the Connecticut Society of the Cincinnati.

Elected to the First, Second, and Third Congresses, Trumbull served in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1789 to March 3, 1795. He was the Speaker of the House in the Second Congress, both preceded and succeeded by Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg. He did not seek re-election for a fourth term and instead successfuilly ran for the United States Senate, serving from March 4, 1795 to June 10, 1796.

On June 10, 1796, he resigned from the United States Senate to become Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut. When the Governor died in December 1797, he became governor and was re-elected to eleven consecutive terms until his death in Lebanon, Connecticut.

He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1804.

Trumbull died August 7, 1809, aged 69 years and 134 days. He is interred at Trumbull Cemetery, Lebanon, Connecticut. He was one the original members of the board of trustees of Bacon Academy.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. ALS : Lebanon, Conn., to Christopher Leffingwell, 1764 Mar. 2. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. Autograph letter signed : Lebanon, 1809 Feb. 20. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Smith, Simeon, 1762-1848. Simeon Smith papers, 1798-1822. New London County Historical Society
referencedIn United States. Continental Army. Receipts, 1777 August. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn John Trumbull papers, 1750-1961 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. Will, 1808. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Huntington, Andrew, 1745-1824. Andrew Huntington appointment, 1802 May 20. New London County Historical Society
referencedIn Trumbull, John, 1756-1843. Papers, 1776-1842. Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Washington (George) Collection Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Connecticut. Committee of the Pay Table. Committee of the Pay Table correspondence and records, 1760 May - 1789 October 6. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
creatorOf Holmes, Abiel, 1763-1837. Papers, 1705-1830. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Hoadley, Charles J., 1828-1900, and Hoadley, George E.,1837-1922. Autograph collection, 1648-1925 Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Gerry-Townsend papers, 1675-1846. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn American Academy of the Fine Arts. Records, 1802-1840. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Autograph File, T, 1580-1975. Houghton Library
referencedIn Silliman family papers, 1717-1977 (bulk 1717-1911) Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Documents relating to the Wyoming Controversy, 1751-1814, 1823, 1751-1823 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. Autograph signature to a document : New Haven, 1805 Oct. 15. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Comstock, Peter. Commission to Peter Comstock, 1804 May 17. New London County Historical Society
referencedIn William A. Oldridge Collection of George Washington's Headquarters Staff Writings, 1775-1962, (bulk 1775-1783) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Trumbull, Joseph, 1737-1778. Papers, 1753-1791. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Silliman family. Silliman family papers, 1717-1977 (inclusive), 1717-1911 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Wadsworth family. Wadsworth family papers, 1745-1914 (inclusive), 1775-1862 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Irving, Washington, 1783-1859. Autograph letter signed : Sunnyside, to Professor B. Silliman, 1856 July 19. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Vaughan, Benjamin, 1751-1835. Papers, 1746-1900 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Douglass, Robert, fl. 1801. Commission to Robert Douglass, 1801 Oct. 10. New London County Historical Society
referencedIn Pierce family. Pierce family correspondence, 1775-1825 and undated. Litchfield Historical Society
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 174-1809. Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., papers, 1783. New London County Historical Society
referencedIn John Trumbull Papers, 1775-1842 New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Saltonstall, Gurdon, 1708-1785. Gurdon Saltonstall correspondence, 1776. Library of Congress
creatorOf Arnold, Benedict, 1741-1801. Correspondence, 1772-1782. New-York Historical Society
creatorOf George Washington papers, 1694-1932 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Wheeler, Thomas, 1760-1824. Commissions to Thomas Wheeler, 2nd, 1796-1805. New London County Historical Society
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. Journal extracts, 1781. Massachusetts Historical Society
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. Jonathan Trumbull papers, 1787-1811 [microform]. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
referencedIn Richard Varick Papers, 1743-1871 (bulk 1775-1830) New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Washington, George, 1732-1799. Letter signed : Mount Vernon, to General Greene, 1781 Nov. 16. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Trumbull, John, 1756-1843. John Trumbull papers, 1750-1961 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007. Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, ca. 1800 - ca. 1912 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
referencedIn United States. Continental Army. Paymaster General and Quartermaster General account books, 1775-1783. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Washington, George, 1732-1799. Letter signed [in the hand of Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.] : Headquarters near Dobbs Ferry, to [James] Clinton, 1781 July 14. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn George Washington papers, 1694-1932 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Historical manuscripts collection, 1347-1969, bulk: 1775-1885 Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department
referencedIn Trumbull College (Yale University). Trumbull College manuscript collection, 1743-1830. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Tennessee. Governor (1803-1809 : Sevier). Letter : Knoxville, Tenn., to his excellency the Governor of the State of Con[n]ecticut, 1806 Jan. 28. Newberry Library
referencedIn William Livingston papers, 1749-1782 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn General Records of the Department of State, 1763 - 2002. Letters Received, 1789 - 1906 National Archives Library, National Archives Records Administration
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. Autograph letter signed : Head Quarters, Newburgh, to Maj. Gen. Stirling, 1782 Apr. 16. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Trumbull, John, 1756-1843. Papers, 1790-1843. Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Benedict Arnold Letter Volume, 1772-1782 New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Noble, David. Connecticut militia commission, 1802 Oct. 18. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
creatorOf Connecticut. Governor (1798-1809 : Trumbull). Military appointment of Nathaniel Ackley, 1800 Oct. 13. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
referencedIn Huntington, Joshua, 1751-1821. Papers, 1742-1801. Gadsden Public Library
referencedIn Trumbull College manuscript collection, 1743-1830 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Livingston, William, 1723-1790. William Livingston papers, 1749-1782. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. Letter, 1775 August 28, New York, N.Y., to Faith Trumbull. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. Letter, 1794 September 16, Lebanon, Conn., to Jeremiah Wadsworth, Hartford, Conn. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Shaw, Nathaniel, 1735-1782. Nathaniel Shaw papers, 1735-1782 and undated. New London County Historical Society
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. Autograph signature to a document : Hartford, 1803 May 19. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Palfrey family papers, 1713-1915 Houghton Library
referencedIn Documents relating to the Wyoming Controversy, 1751-1814, 1823. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Scovil, Joseph. Joseph Scovil papers, 1798-1845. Litchfield Historical Society
referencedIn Trumbull, John, 1756-1843. John Trumbull papers, 1750-1961 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804. Papers of Jeremiah Wadsworth, 1775-1833. Library of Congress
creatorOf Kirkland, Samuel, 1741-1808. Papers, 1764-1808. New Hampshire Newspaper Project
referencedIn Simpson, James, d. 1820. James Simpson letterbook, 1793-1797. Library of Congress
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1710-1785. Papers, 1637-1787. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. Jonathan Trumbull papers, 1787-1811. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
creatorOf Connecticut. Governor (1798-1809 : Trumbull). [Proclamations, 1798-1809]. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Free Library of Philadelphia Collection of Literary Manuscripts, 1666-1990 Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department
creatorOf Andrew, John A. (John Albion), 1818-1867,. Lee family papers [microform] 1652 [1769-1870] 1890. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Silliman family. Silliman family papers, 1717-1977 (inclusive), 1717-1911 (bulk). Yale University Library
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. Papers, 1753-1832. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Noble, David. Papers. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
referencedIn Day, Thomas, 1777-1855. Thomas Day papers, 1805-1853. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809. Jonathan Trumbull papers, 1792-1794. Library of Congress
creatorOf Strong, Caleb, 1745-1819. Papers, 1657-1818. Library of Congress
referencedIn Fishburne, William, 1760-1819. William Fishburne papers, 1743-1879. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Trumbull College (Yale University). Trumbull College manuscript collection, 1743-1830. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Huntington, Benjamin, 1736-1800. Draft of letter, 1789 August 18, New York, N.Y. to George Phillips, Middletown, Conn. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Atwater, Jesse. Letter, 1808 November 24, Washington City, to W.S. Judd, New Haven, Conn. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Varick, Richard, 1753-1831. Papers, 1774-1830. Churchill County Museum
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associatedWith Williams, William, 1731-1811. person
associatedWith Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. person
associatedWith Wolcott, Oliver, 1760-1833. person
associatedWith Wolcott, Roger, 1679-1767 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Lebanon CT US
New York City NY US
Hartford CT US
Lebanon CT US
Philadelphia PA US
Subject
Colonial Politics
Courts-martial and courts of inquiry
Deeds
Embargo, 1807-1809
Fugitives from justice
Land settlement
Pennsylvania History
Real property
Wills
Occupation
Governors
Lieutenant governors
Merchants
Public officials
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Senators, U.S. Congress
Soldiers
Speakers of the House, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1740-03-26

Death 1809-08-07

Male

Americans

English

Information

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