Governor Paul Brigham

PAUL BRIGHAM was born in Coventry, Connecticut and settled in Norwich, Vermont as a farmer and land speculator. He became a Captain in the Connecticut Militia and was a Company Commander of Continental troops under General George Washington. He later became active in the Vermont Militia and was one of four major generals. He was elected to represent Norwich in the State Legislature in 1783, 1786, and 1789, and served as a judge and sheriff over a period of years spanning the last quarter of the 18 th century. He was also a delegate to the Constitutional Conventions of 1793, 1814, and 1822. In 1796 he was elected Lieutenant Governor, becoming acting governor upon the death of Thomas Chittenden in 1797. After seven weeks, Brigham resumed his post as Lieutenant Governor with the inauguration of the new governor, Isaac Tichenor. He continued to serve in that post until 1819, failing to win reelection only in 1813 and 1814. He retired to his home in Norwich in 1820.