About Jonathan Trumbull

The Town of Trumbull is named after Jonathan Trumbull Sr., a merchant, American politician, and statesman who served as Governor of Connecticut during the American Revolution. 

Jonathan Trumbull was born in Lebanon, CT on October 12, 1710. He attended Harvard and graduated in 1727. By 1731, he was a licensed preacher and was preparing to accept a position with a congregation in Colchester when the death of his older brother died. Trumbull moved back to Lebanon to help run the family business.

He was a delegate to the State of Connecticut General Assembly from 1733 and was elected as Speaker of the House in 1740. Trumbull was an important member of the General Assembly, helping to resolve issues ranging from religious disputes to international disagreements. He was appointed Lieutenant Colonel in Connecticut's militia in 1739 and was colonel of the 12th Connecticut Regiment during the French and Indian War. After playing a vital role in supplying troops during the French and Indian War, Trumbull won election as Deputy Governor of Connecticut 1766 and became Governor upon the death of Governor William Pitkin in 1769. 

In the 1770s, Governor Trumbull oversaw a colony that was becoming increasingly divided between Patriots and Loyalists. Following the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, Trumbull was contacted by British General Thomas Gage who sought Trumbull’s cooperation “for the good of his Majesty’s service.” Trumbull refused and chose to side with the Patriots. Governor Trumbull spoke out for the patriot cause and encouraged the General Assembly to pass legislation that would prevent loyalists from serving as officers in the Connecticut militia. Governor Jonathan Trumbull was the only one of the 13 colonial governors to support the Revolution.

Governor Trumbull worked tirelessly to ensure Connecticut could provide supplies such as food, lumber, clothing, and livestock, to the Continental Army and the Connecticut Militia. Between 1775 and 1783, he held over 1,000 meetings at his store in Lebanon. Governor Trumbull controlled inflation during the war by limiting the amount of paper money that was issued and by increasing taxes. He called for embargoes of various materials to ensure Connecticut would be able to meet the supply needs of the war effort.

A friend and advisor of George Washington, he lent his support to the recruitment of soldiers and the acquisition of supplies. Trumbull also served as the Continental Army's Paymaster General (Northern Department) in the spring of 1778, until the untimely death of his mother forced him to resign his post. As part of his resignation, he requested that the remainder of his back pay be distributed to the soldiers of the Northern Department.

In October 1783, Governor Trumbull went before the Connecticut General Assembly and announced he would not run for office again. Trumbull resigned his office in 1784 after 50 years of public service. During his last year of life, Governor Trumbull was forced to address the massive debt he had accumulated primarily in support of the Revolution. Governor Jonathan Trumbull died on August 17, 1785 in Lebanon, CT and is buried at the Old Cemetery there. His home in Lebanon, the Jonathan Trumbull House, was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

Jonathan Trumbull was married to Faith Robinson, and they were the parents of six children, Joseph, Jonathan Jr., Faith, Mary, David, and John.

In addition to the Town of Trumbull, Trumbull College at Yale University, Trumbull County, Ohio (originally part of the Connecticut Western Reserve), and the University of Connecticut’s Jonathan the Husky are all named for him.