Thomas Chittenden
Encyclopedia
Thomas Chittenden was an important figure in the founding of Vermont
.
Chittenden was born in East Guilford, Connecticut and moved to Vermont in 1774, where he founded the town of Williston
. 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 in order to not antagonize the states of New York
and New Hampshire
, which had competing claims against Vermont. In 1777, a convention was held in Windsor
, which drafted Vermont's first constitution
, establishing Vermont as an independent republic
—the first republic in North America
. During the Vermont Republic Chittenden served as governor from 1778–1789 and 1790–1791, 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.
After Vermont entered the federal Union in 1791 as the fourteenth state, Chittenden continued to serve as governor
until 1797 when he died in office. 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. A bronze sculpture of Chittenden can also be found on the grounds of the Vermont State House near the building's west entrance. Thomas Chittenden was buried at Williston, Vermont
. In the 1990s a statue of him was erected in front of the Williston Central School.
Citing Vermont's tumultuous founding, his epitaph reads "Out of storm and manifold perils rose an enduring state, the home of freedom and unity
."
Chittenden married Elizabeth Meigs, also of East Guilford, Conn., on the 4th of October, 1749. They had four sons and six daughters, all of whom survived to adulthood. His great-grandson, Lucius E. Chittenden
, served as Register of the Treasury
in the Lincoln administration.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
.
Chittenden was born in East Guilford, Connecticut and moved to Vermont in 1774, where he founded the town of Williston
Williston, Vermont
Williston is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 8,698 at the 2010 census, an increase of over 1,000 people since the 2000 census...
. During the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, Chittenden was a member of a committee empowered to negotiate with the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
to allow Vermont to join the Union. The Congress deferred the matter in order to not antagonize the states of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, which had competing claims against Vermont. In 1777, a convention was held in Windsor
Windsor, Vermont
Windsor is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,756 at the 2000 census.-History:One of the New Hampshire grants, Windsor was chartered as a town on July 6, 1761 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth. It was first settled in August 1764 by Captain Steele Smith and...
, which drafted Vermont's first constitution
Constitution of Vermont
The Constitution of the State of Vermont is the fundamental body of law of the U.S. State of Vermont. It was adopted in 1793 following Vermont's admission to the Union in 1791 and is largely based upon the 1777 Constitution of Vermont which was ratified at Windsor in the Old Constitution House. At...
, establishing Vermont as an independent republic
Vermont Republic
The term Vermont Republic has been used by later historians for the government of what became modern Vermont from 1777 to 1791. In July 1777 delegates from 28 towns met and declared independence from jurisdictions and land claims of British colonies in New Hampshire and New York. They also...
—the first republic in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. During the Vermont Republic Chittenden served as governor from 1778–1789 and 1790–1791, and was one of the participants in a series of delicate negotiations
Haldimand Affair
The Haldimand Affair was a series of negotiations conducted in the early 1780s between Frederick Haldimand, then serving as governor of the British Province of Quebec, his agents, and several people representing, or claiming to represent, the independent Vermont Republic...
with British authorities in Quebec over the possibility of establishing Vermont as a British province.
After Vermont entered the federal Union in 1791 as the fourteenth state, Chittenden continued to serve as governor
Governor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
until 1797 when he died in office. 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
Vermont State House
The Vermont State House, located in Montpelier, is the state capitol of Vermont and the seat of the Vermont General Assembly. The current Greek Revival structure is the third building on the same site to be used as the State House...
at Montpelier. A bronze sculpture of Chittenden can also be found on the grounds of the Vermont State House near the building's west entrance. Thomas Chittenden was buried at Williston, Vermont
Williston, Vermont
Williston is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. The population was 8,698 at the 2010 census, an increase of over 1,000 people since the 2000 census...
. In the 1990s a statue of him was erected in front of the Williston Central School.
Citing Vermont's tumultuous founding, his epitaph reads "Out of storm and manifold perils rose an enduring state, the home of freedom and unity
Freedom and Unity
"Freedom and Unity" is the official motto of the U.S. state of Vermont. The motto was first adopted in 1788 for use on the Great Seal of the Vermont Republic. Ira Allen designed the Vermont seal and is often credited as its author...
."
Chittenden married Elizabeth Meigs, also of East Guilford, Conn., on the 4th of October, 1749. They had four sons and six daughters, all of whom survived to adulthood. His great-grandson, Lucius E. Chittenden
Lucius E. Chittenden
Lucius Eugene Chittenden was a Vermont author, banker, lawyer, politician and peace advocate who served as Register of the Treasury during the Lincoln administration.-Early life:...
, served as Register of the Treasury
Register of the Treasury
The Register of the Treasury was an office of the United States Treasury Department. In 1919, the Register became the Public Debt Service which, in 1940, became the Bureau of the Public Debt....
in the Lincoln administration.
Books
- Frank Smallwood, Thomas Chittenden: Vermont's First Statesman, The New England Press : 1997, 304 S., ISBN 1-881535-27-4