Jonathan Trumbull Jr. (March 26, 1740 – August 7, 1809) was an American
politician who served as the 20th
governor of Connecticut, the second
speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The speaker of the United States House of Representatives, commonly known as the speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives. The office was established in 1789 by Article I, Section 2 of the U. ...
, and the 24th
Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut.
He is often confused with his younger brother,
John Trumbull
John Trumbull (June 6, 1756November 10, 1843) was an American artist of the early independence period, notable for his historical paintings of the American Revolutionary War, of which he was a veteran. He has been called the "Painter of the Rev ...
, a famous artist during the revolutionary war and early years of the United States.
Early life
Trumbull was born in
Lebanon,
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...
, 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
Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher ...
in 1759, and gave the valedictory address when he received his master's degree in 1762. His brother
John Trumbull
John Trumbull (June 6, 1756November 10, 1843) was an American artist of the early independence period, notable for his historical paintings of the American Revolutionary War, of which he was a veteran. He has been called the "Painter of the Rev ...
was a noted painter of the
Revolution.
Career
State and local office
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
The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England.
Usage
The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hunger ...
in 1788.
Revolutionary War
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
Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use 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
The Society of the Cincinnati is a fraternal, hereditary society founded in 1783 to commemorate the American Revolutionary War that saw the creation of the United States. Membership is largely restricted to descendants of military officers wh ...
.
United States Congress
Elected to the
First,
Second
The second (symbol: s) is the unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), historically defined as of a day – this factor derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes and finally to 60 seconds ...
, 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 ran for the
United States Senate.
When Trumbull was elected to the United States Senate, he served from March 4, 1795 to June 10, 1796.
Governor of Connecticut
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.
Personal life

Trumbull married Eunice Backus. Together, they had one son and four daughters:
*Jonathan Trumbull (b. December 24, 1767, d. January 14, 1768), who died young
*Faith Trumbull (b. February 1, 1769), who married
Daniel Wadsworth (1771–1848), an artist and architect
*Mary Trumbull (b. December 27, 1777)
*Harriet Trumbull Silliman (b. September 2, 1783, d. January 1850), who married
Benjamin Silliman (1779–1864), a scientist.
*
Maria Trumbull
Maria Trumbull (1785–1805) was a published letter writer. She became Maria Trumbull Hudson with her marriage to Henry Hudson. Her father was Governor Jonathan Trumbull Jr.
Early life
Maria Trumbull was born February 14, 1785, and baptized in ...
(b. February 14, 1785).
He was elected a Fellow of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, ...
in 1804.
Trumbull died August 7, 1809, aged 69 years and 134 days. He is interred at Trumbull Cemetery, Lebanon, Connecticut.
He was one of the original members of the board of trustees of
Bacon Academy
Bacon Academy is a public high school in Colchester, Connecticut, in the United States.
In 1800 a prominent Colchester farmer, Pierpont Bacon, died and left an endowment of thirty-five thousand dollars (with buying power equivalent to that of abou ...
.
See also
*
Trumbull, Connecticut
Trumbull is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It borders on the cities of Bridgeport and Shelton and the towns of Stratford, Fairfield, Easton and Monroe. The population was 36,827 during the 2020 census. Trum ...
*
Trumbull County, Ohio
Trumbull County is a county in the far northeast portion of U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 201,977. Its county seat is Warren, which developed industry along the Mahoning River. Trumbull County is part of the You ...
References
External links
*
National Governors AssociationThe American Revolution InstituteThe Society of the Cincinnati
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trumbull, Jonathan Jr.
1740 births
1809 deaths
Continental Army staff officers
United States Army paymasters
Governors of Connecticut
Members of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut
Speakers of the United States House of Representatives
United States senators from Connecticut
American people of English descent
Harvard College alumni
Connecticut Federalists
Federalist Party United States senators
Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Members of the Connecticut House of Representatives
Speakers of the Connecticut House of Representatives
Federalist Party state governors of the United States
Military personnel from Connecticut
Aides-de-camp of George Washington
People from Lebanon, Connecticut
People of colonial Connecticut
Burials in Connecticut