Seth Storrs (January 24, 1756 – October 5, 1837) was a

Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...

political and civic leader who took part in the founding of

Middlebury College Middlebury College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Middlebury, Vermont, United States. Founded in 1800 by Congregationalism in the United States, Congregationalists, Middlebury w ...

and served as

State Auditor State auditors (also known as state comptrollers, state controllers, or state examiners, among others) are fiscal officers lodged in the executive or legislative branches of U.S. state governments who serve as external auditors, program eval ...

Biography

Storrs was born in Mansfield, Connecticut, on January 24, 1756. He was educated at

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

, and graduated in 1778. One of Storrs' tutors was Timothy Dwight, and they became lifelong friends. After graduating, Storrs, Dwight and other Yale graduates formed a preparatory school in

Northampton, Massachusetts The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of Northampton (including its outer villages, Florence, Massachusetts, Florence and ...

, where Storrs taught until 1783. In 1784 Storrs relocated to

Bennington, Vermont Bennington is a New England town, town in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. It is one of two shire towns (county seats) of the county, the other being Manchester (town), Vermont, Manchester. As of the 2020 United States Census, US Cens ...

, and studied law with another Yale classmate, Noah Smith. After attaining admission to the bar in 1787 Storrs moved to Addison, where he established a practice. He was also named the county's first

State's Attorney In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, county prosecutor, state attorney, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or solicitor is the chief prosecutor or chief law enforcement officer represen ...

, a position he held until 1797. In 1794 Storrs moved again, this time settling in Middlebury. Active in Middlebury's

Congregational church Congregationalism (also Congregational Churches or Congregationalist Churches) is a Reformed Christian (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice congregational government. Each congregation independently a ...

, Storrs served variously as

deacon A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian denominations, such as the Cathol ...

, clerk, and treasurer from 1798 until his death. Storrs also became involved with the

militia A militia ( ) is a military or paramilitary force that comprises civilian members, as opposed to a professional standing army of regular, full-time military personnel. Militias may be raised in times of need to support regular troops or se ...

, and attained the rank of

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

. In addition, Storrs was active in local government, serving as Addison's town clerk for four years and Middlebury's from 1801 to 1831. In 1797 Storrs was elected State Auditor, serving until 1801. Also in 1797 Storrs was a member of the corporation that chartered the Addisson County Grammar School in Middlebury. In 1799 he was one of the group that founded Middlebury College, and when it commenced operations in 1800 Storrs was named one of the members of its

board of trustees A board of directors is a governing body that supervises the activities of a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government agency. The powers, duties, and responsibilities of a board of directors are determined by government regulatio ...

. Storrs was a frequent benefactor of the college, and donated the land for the original campus. Storrs died October 5, 1837, while visiting friends in Vergennes. He was buried in Middlebury's West Cemetery.Gravestone photographs by Jen Snoots
Findagrave.com entry for Seth Storrs, accessed November 17, 2011

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Storrs, Seth 1756 births 1837 deaths Yale University alumni Vermont lawyers State's attorneys in Vermont Military history of Vermont State auditors of Vermont People from Mansfield, Connecticut Politicians from Middlebury, Vermont People from pre-statehood Vermont Middlebury College University and college founders 19th-century American lawyers