John H. Trumbull

John Harper Trumbull (March 4, 1873 – May 21, 1961) was an American politician and the 70th Governor of Connecticut.

Early life

Trumbull was born in Ashford, Connecticut son of Hugh Homer Trumbull (1847–1922) and Mary Ann (Harper) Trumbull (1849–1923). Despite his name, he was not related to the previous governors of Connecticut of the same name, but was the son of Irish immigrants who moved to Ashford in the early 1870s to run a farm. The family later moved to Plainville, Connecticut. Trumbull did not attend college.^[1]

Career

As a partner with his brother, Henry and one other man, Frank T. Wheeler, in 1891, he formed the Trumbull Electric Company, which produced electrical supply parts including porcelain fixtures, switchboards and panels. He served as President of that company from 1911 to 1944.^[2] It later became part of General Electric.^[3] He also was board chairman of Colonial Air Transport, Incorporated; director and treasurer of Plainville Realty Company; president of Plainville Trust Company; and director of Connecticut Light & Power Company.^[4]

Trumbull joined the First Connecticut Infantry in 1891, finally reaching the rank of colonel in the State Guard. He was a Republican.^[5] Trumbull served in the Connecticut Senate. He served as President pro tempore of the Connecticut Senate.

Elected the 59th Lieutenant Governor in November 1924. Trumbull held that office from January 7 to January 8, 1925, as the Governor, Hiram Bingham III, resigned after one day as a governor to become a U.S. Senator. Trumbull had learned to pilot his own airplanes and was dubbed "The Flying Governor" because he often flew into Robertson Field Airport in Plainville.^[6]

Trumbull was a conservative Republican and made sure to balance the State budget. He also sought to assist Connecticut's businesses. During his terms in office, the government started a building program and worked at improving the roads of the State. He sponsored an aviation development, and launched numerous construction projects. He was re-elected as governor two times, in 1926 and 1928, but chose not to run for reelection in 1930. He left the office on January 7, 1931. However, he ran for the office again in 1932, but was defeated by his successor, Democrat incumbent Wilbur Cross.

Trumbull continued to oversee his business interests. He also served as a Delegate to the Republican National Convention from Connecticut in 1920 as Alternate. Organizer and president, Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Co.; board chairman, Colonial Air Transport, Inc.; director and treasurer, Plainville Realty Co.; president, Plainville Trust Co.; director, Connecticut Light & Power Co.; delegate to Republican National Convention from Connecticut, 1920 (alternate), 1924, 1928, 1932, and 1936. He stayed active as vice president of the Connecticut Humane Society and the Connecticut Historical Society.^[7]

Personal life

Trumbull was married on November 28, 1903, to Maud Pierce Usher (1874–1963),and they had two daughters:^[1]

• Florence Trumbull (1904–1998), who married John Coolidge (1906–2000),^[8] son of President Calvin Coolidge^[9]
• Jean Usher Trumbull (1910–1994) who married Alaric R. Bailey of Jamestown, New York

Trumbull died in Hartford, Connecticut, on May 21, 1961 (age 88 years, 78 days). He is interred at West Cemetery, Plainville, Connecticut.^[10]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to John H. Trumbull.

• Office of the Governor: John Harper Trumbull at Connecticut State Library
• John H. Trumbull at Find a Grave
• The Political Graveyard
• National Governors Association
• NNDB Soylent Communications
• Connecticut State Library

Governors of Connecticut
Trumbull Sr. M. Griswold Huntington Wolcott Sr. Trumbull Jr. Treadwall R. Griswold Smith Wolcott Jr. Tomlinson Peters Edwards Foot Edwards Ellsworth Cleveland R. S. Baldwin Toucey Bissell J. Trumbull Seymour Pond Dutton Minor Holley Buckingham Hawley English Jewell English Jewell Ingersoll Hubbard Andrews Bigelow Waller Harrison P. Lounsbury Bulkeley Morris Coffin Cooke G. Lounsbury McLean Chamberlain Roberts Woodruff Lilley Weeks S. Baldwin Holcomb Lake Templeton Bingham J. H. Trumbull Cross R. E. Baldwin Hurley R. E. Baldwin Snow McConaughy Shannon Bowles Lodge Ribicoff Dempsey Meskill Grasso O'Neill Weicker Rowland Rell Malloy