Samuel Edwin Merwin (August 31, 1831 – March 5, 1907), was an American

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

who was the 64th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut from 1889 to 1893.Brief Descriptions of Connecticut State Agencies, Lieutenant Governor
.

Early life

Merwin was born in

Brookfield, Connecticut Brookfield is a New England town, town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, situated within the southern foothills of the Berkshires, Berkshire Mountains. The population was 17,528 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The t ...

on August 31, 1831, the son of Samuel Edwin Merwin Sr. and Ruby (

née The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...

Nearing) Merwin.

Career

He received his early education in the district school and then from a private tutor. By the age of 16, he moved to

New Haven New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is the third largest city in Co ...

. He served as a clerk in a store for three years, then went into business with his father. Later, he became president of the New Haven and Yale National Banks. He was a commanding officer of a company known as the "New Haven Grays" in the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...

during the U.S. Civil War.

Political career

In 1872, Merwin became a member of the

Connecticut State Senate The Connecticut State Senate is the upper house of the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The state senate comprises 36 members, each representing a district with around 99,280 inhabitants. Sena ...

for the 4th district,The Political Graveyard, Index to Politicians: Merwin.
/ref> as the first Republican ever from that district He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Connecticut in 1884. He was elected

Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut The lieutenant governor of Connecticut is the second highest executive officer of the government of the U.S. State of Connecticut. The lieutenant governor acts as President of the State Senate, presiding over the Senate and casting votes in the ...

in November 1888, and served from January 10, 1889, while

Morgan Bulkeley Morgan Gardner Bulkeley (December 26, 1837 – November 6, 1922) was an American politician of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, businessman, and insurance executive. In 1876, he served as the first president of baseball's ...

was the governor. In the election of 1890, Merwin defeated Bulkeley for the Republican nomination for candidate in the gubernatorial election. His opponent received a majority of fewer than 100 votes, and the election was contested. There was a deadlock for two years, until the next election, in which Bulkeley still served as governor. Merwin continued serving as lieutenant governor during those years. Merwin was the Republican candidate for governor in the election of 1892 as well, and aspired to become the candidate in 1894 too. However, in 1892, the gubernatorial election was won by Democrat Luzon Buritt Morris, and in 1894,

Owen Vincent Coffin Owen Vincent Coffin (June 20, 1836 – January 13, 1921) was an American politician and the 56th Governor of Connecticut from 1895 to 1897. Biography Coffin was born in Mansfield, New York. He studied at Cortland Academy and the Charlottesvi ...

was the Republican candidate and won the election.

Personal life

Merwin died at his residence in

New Haven, Connecticut New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is List ...

on March 5, 1907, after an illness of three years.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merwin, Samuel E. Military personnel from Connecticut 1831 births 1907 deaths Lieutenant governors of Connecticut Adjutants General of Connecticut Connecticut state senators People from Brookfield, Connecticut 19th-century members of the Connecticut General Assembly