Representative Chittenden Lyon

Chittenden Lyon (February 22, 1787 – November 23, 1842) was an American businessman and politician from Kentucky, most notable for his service as a United States Representative from 1827 to 1833. He was born in Fair Haven, Vermont, on February 22, 1787, the son of Matthew Lyon, a prominent early American politician, and Beulah (Chittenden) Lyon. His mother was the daughter of Vermont Governor Thomas Chittenden and the sister of Governor Martin Chittenden, placing Lyon within a family deeply involved in the political life of the early republic. He attended the common schools of Fair Haven during his youth.

In 1801, the Lyon family moved from Vermont to Kentucky, settling in Caldwell County. After completing his education, Chittenden Lyon established himself as a successful merchant and farmer in Eddyville, Kentucky. He owned slaves and became a substantial figure in the local economy. Contemporary descriptions portrayed him as a man of striking physical presence, a “giant” well over six feet tall and weighing nearly 350 pounds, which contributed to his local prominence and reputation.

Lyon’s political career began at the state level. As a Democratic-Republican, he served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1822 to 1825, representing his region during a period of political realignment following the War of 1812. His legislative work in Frankfort helped to establish his credentials as a supporter of the emerging Jacksonian movement and an advocate for the interests of western Kentucky.

In 1826, Lyon was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a member of the Jackson Party, also known as a Jacksonian. He was reelected three times and served four terms in Congress, from March 4, 1827, to March 3, 1835. During this significant period in American history, which encompassed the rise of Andrew Jackson and the consolidation of Jacksonian democracy, Lyon participated in the legislative process and represented the interests of his Kentucky constituents in the national government. His service coincided with major debates over federal power, economic policy, and westward expansion. After deciding not to be a candidate for reelection in 1834, he left Congress at the close of his fourth term and returned to his business and farming pursuits in Eddyville.

Lyon’s personal life was marked by two marriages and a large family. In 1817, he married Nancy Vaughn (1796–1828). They were the parents of Mary Ann (1818–1873), Margaret Aurelia (born 1820), Matthew Skinner (1823–1891), Giles James Nelson (born 1825), and Chittenden Patton (1827–1863). After Nancy Vaughn Lyon’s death in 1828, he married Frances (Baker) Jones (1802–1866) in 1829. Frances had previously been married and was the mother of Edmund W. Jones (1822–1853) by her first husband. With Frances Baker, Lyon had three more children: Helen Minerva (1830–1880), Loraine Elvira (1831–1840), and Thompson Archer (1833–1899). His daughter Margaret Lyon later became the first wife of Willis Benson Machen, who served as a United States Senator from Kentucky, thereby extending the family’s political connections into another generation.

In his later years, Lyon remained active in public affairs in Kentucky. In 1842, he was again elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives, reflecting his continued standing in state politics. However, he died in Eddyville on November 23, 1842, before the start of the legislative term and thus never took his seat. He was buried in Eddyville Cemetery. His legacy endured in the region; in 1854, Lyon County, Kentucky, which was separated from Caldwell County, was named in his honor, commemorating his role as a prominent local businessman, state legislator, and member of the United States Congress.