Chauncey Fitch Cleveland
Encyclopedia
Chauncey Fitch Cleveland (February 16, 1799 – June 6, 1887) was a United States Representative and the 31st Governor of Connecticut. Born in Canterbury, Connecticut
, he attended the common schools and taught school from the age of fifteen to twenty. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
in 1819 and commenced practice in Hampton
. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
from 1826 to 1829, 1832, 1835, 1836, 1838, 1847, and 1848, and served as its speaker
in 1836 and 1838. He was State's attorney
in 1832 and State bank commissioner in 1838. In 1841 he moved to Norwich, Connecticut
.
Cleveland was Governor of Connecticut in 1842 and 1843, and then resumed the practice of law in Hampton. He was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-first and Thirty-second Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1849 to March 3, 1853. He became affiliated with the Republican Party upon its organization, and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
s of 1856 and 1860. He was a member of the peace convention of 1861 held in Washington, D.C.
in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war, and was again a member of the State house of representatives in 1863 and 1866, serving as speaker in the former year. He engaged in agricultural pursuits and the practice of law, and in 1887 died in Hampton. Interment was in South Cemetery.
Canterbury, Connecticut
Canterbury is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,692 at the 2000 census.-History:The area was first settled in the 1680s as Peagscomsuck, consisting mainly of land north of Norwich, south of New Roxbury, Massachusetts and west of the Quinebaug River and the...
, he attended the common schools and taught school from the age of fifteen to twenty. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1819 and commenced practice in Hampton
Hampton, Connecticut
Hampton is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,758 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
Connecticut House of Representatives
The Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
from 1826 to 1829, 1832, 1835, 1836, 1838, 1847, and 1848, and served as its speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
in 1836 and 1838. He was State's attorney
State's Attorney
In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...
in 1832 and State bank commissioner in 1838. In 1841 he moved to Norwich, Connecticut
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
.
Cleveland was Governor of Connecticut in 1842 and 1843, and then resumed the practice of law in Hampton. He was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-first and Thirty-second Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1849 to March 3, 1853. He became affiliated with the Republican Party upon its organization, and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
s of 1856 and 1860. He was a member of the peace convention of 1861 held in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war, and was again a member of the State house of representatives in 1863 and 1866, serving as speaker in the former year. He engaged in agricultural pursuits and the practice of law, and in 1887 died in Hampton. Interment was in South Cemetery.