John Cotton Smith
Encyclopedia
John Cotton Smith was the 23rd Governor of Connecticut. He was a Federalist, serving as Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives (1800, 1806–1807, 1807–1809), as a Congressman for Connecticut
from 1800–1806, Lt. Governor (1811–1812), and finally as the last Federalist Governor of Connecticut from 1812 to 1817.
He was born and died in Sharon, Connecticut
. John Cotton Smith's father was Cotton Mather Smith, a Puritan
minister who moved from Massachusetts
to Connecticut. John Smith studied at Yale
, graduating in 1783. He was proud of his Puritan background and was active in religious organizations. He served as president of the American Bible Society
from 1831 until his death in 1845.
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Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
from 1800–1806, Lt. Governor (1811–1812), and finally as the last Federalist Governor of Connecticut from 1812 to 1817.
He was born and died in Sharon, Connecticut
Sharon, Connecticut
Sharon is a town located in Litchfield County, Connecticut, in the northwest corner of the state. It is bounded on the north by Salisbury, on the east by the Housatonic River, on the south by Kent, and on the west by Dutchess County, New York...
. John Cotton Smith's father was Cotton Mather Smith, a Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
minister who moved from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to Connecticut. John Smith studied at Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, graduating in 1783. He was proud of his Puritan background and was active in religious organizations. He served as president of the American Bible Society
American Bible Society
The American Bible Society is an interconfessional, non-denominational, nonprofit organization, founded in 1816 in New York City, which publishes, distributes and translates the Bible and provides study aids and other tools to help people engage with the Bible.It is probably best known for its...
from 1831 until his death in 1845.
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External links
- Biographical Sketch of John Cotton Smith
- View congressional biography here: http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000570