Thomas Cushing
Encyclopedia
Thomas Cushing III was an American lawyer and statesman from Boston, Massachusetts. He was a loyalist for Massachusetts
in the Continental Congress
from 1774 to 1776, and the first Lt. Commander of the state from 1780 to 1788. Between the resignation of John Hancock
and the election of James Bowdoin
, he served as Acting Governor of Massachusetts in 1785.
Thomas was born into a prosperous and leading mercantile family of Boston. (The Cushing family had originally emigrated from Norfolk
, England
, to Hingham, Massachusetts
in 1638.) His father, also named Thomas Cushing, was a leading member of the Old South Church and selectman. Thomas, Sr. was a frequent moderator of town meetings, and accepted the gift of Faneuil Hall
from Peter Faneuil
in 1742, served in the General Court (colonial assembly) of Massachusetts from 1731 to 1747, and as its speaker after 1742. His mother, Mary (Bromfield) Cushing (1689–1746) was also from another prominent family. The younger Thomas was born at Boston on March 24, 1725, and was the eldest of four children.
Thomas got his early education from Boston Latin School
, followed by Harvard
, where he graduated in 1744. He studied law and was admitted to the bar. On October 1, 1747, he married Deborah Fletcher (c. 1727-1790). After a brief time in his father's counting house
, as a co-worker with Samuel Adams
, he practiced law in Boston.
Thomas was elected to the state assembly in May 1766, and shortly afterward became its speaker. The Assembly first chose James Otis
, but Governor Bernard rejected this choice, and Cushing was named as a compromise candidate between the Whigs and the Tories. He held this post for the rest of the life of the colonial assembly, until 1774.
For a long time Cushing remained opposed to the revolution, and then to American independence. In 1772 he refused to serve when named to one of the Committees of Correspondence. He was nevertheless, elected one of the delegates to the First Continental Congress
in 1774, and to the second in 1775. While not supporting revolution his prominence was such that in April, 1775 he was ordered arrested, to be sent to England and tried for treason. Fortunately he never fell into Governor Gage's
hands. When Massachusetts formed a revolutionary government that summer, he was elected to the Council.
In 1776 his opposition to independence continued. So when delegates were elected for the next session of the Continental Congress on January 19, he got no votes. Elbridge Gerry
took his seat in the congress. When he finally came to support the revolution he served the Continental Army
as commissary general for Massachusetts.
Cushing declined re-election to the Continental Congress in 1779, but accepted election as the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts in 1780 and held that post until his death. He attended the state convention that ratified the United States Constitution. Thomas died on February 28, 1788, and is buried in the Granary Burying Ground
in Boston.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
from 1774 to 1776, and the first Lt. Commander of the state from 1780 to 1788. Between the resignation of John Hancock
John Hancock
John Hancock was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
and the election of James Bowdoin
James Bowdoin
James Bowdoin II was an American political and intellectual leader from Boston, Massachusetts during the American Revolution. He served in both branches of the Massachusetts General Court in the colonial era and was president of the state's constitutional convention...
, he served as Acting Governor of Massachusetts in 1785.
Thomas was born into a prosperous and leading mercantile family of Boston. (The Cushing family had originally emigrated from Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, to Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
in 1638.) His father, also named Thomas Cushing, was a leading member of the Old South Church and selectman. Thomas, Sr. was a frequent moderator of town meetings, and accepted the gift of Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall , located near the waterfront and today's Government Center, in Boston, Massachusetts, has been a marketplace and a meeting hall since 1742. It was the site of several speeches by Samuel Adams, James Otis, and others encouraging independence from Great Britain, and is now part of...
from Peter Faneuil
Peter Faneuil
Peter Faneuil was a wealthy American colonial merchant, slave trader, and philanthropist who donated Faneuil Hall to Boston.-Childhood:...
in 1742, served in the General Court (colonial assembly) of Massachusetts from 1731 to 1747, and as its speaker after 1742. His mother, Mary (Bromfield) Cushing (1689–1746) was also from another prominent family. The younger Thomas was born at Boston on March 24, 1725, and was the eldest of four children.
Thomas got his early education from Boston Latin School
Boston Latin School
The Boston Latin School is a public exam school founded on April 23, 1635, in Boston, Massachusetts. It is both the first public school and oldest existing school in the United States....
, followed by Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he graduated in 1744. He studied law and was admitted to the bar. On October 1, 1747, he married Deborah Fletcher (c. 1727-1790). After a brief time in his father's counting house
Counting house
A counting house, or compting house, literally is the building, room, office or suite in which a business firm carries on operations, particularly accounting. By a synecdoche, it has come to mean the accounting operations of a firm, however housed...
, as a co-worker with Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams was an American statesman, political philosopher, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. As a politician in colonial Massachusetts, Adams was a leader of the movement that became the American Revolution, and was one of the architects of the principles of American...
, he practiced law in Boston.
Thomas was elected to the state assembly in May 1766, and shortly afterward became its speaker. The Assembly first chose James Otis
James Otis, Jr.
James Otis, Jr. was a lawyer in colonial Massachusetts, a member of the Massachusetts provincial assembly, and an early advocate of the political views that led to the American Revolution. The phrase "Taxation without Representation is Tyranny" is usually attributed to him...
, but Governor Bernard rejected this choice, and Cushing was named as a compromise candidate between the Whigs and the Tories. He held this post for the rest of the life of the colonial assembly, until 1774.
For a long time Cushing remained opposed to the revolution, and then to American independence. In 1772 he refused to serve when named to one of the Committees of Correspondence. He was nevertheless, elected one of the delegates to the First Continental Congress
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen North American colonies that met on September 5, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. It was called in response to the passage of the Coercive Acts by the...
in 1774, and to the second in 1775. While not supporting revolution his prominence was such that in April, 1775 he was ordered arrested, to be sent to England and tried for treason. Fortunately he never fell into Governor Gage's
Thomas Gage
Thomas Gage was a British general, best known for his many years of service in North America, including his role as military commander in the early days of the American War of Independence....
hands. When Massachusetts formed a revolutionary government that summer, he was elected to the Council.
In 1776 his opposition to independence continued. So when delegates were elected for the next session of the Continental Congress on January 19, he got no votes. Elbridge Gerry
Elbridge Gerry
Elbridge Thomas Gerry was an American statesman and diplomat. As a Democratic-Republican he was selected as the fifth Vice President of the United States , serving under James Madison, until his death a year and a half into his term...
took his seat in the congress. When he finally came to support the revolution he served the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
as commissary general for Massachusetts.
Cushing declined re-election to the Continental Congress in 1779, but accepted election as the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts in 1780 and held that post until his death. He attended the state convention that ratified the United States Constitution. Thomas died on February 28, 1788, and is buried in the Granary Burying Ground
Granary Burying Ground
Founded in 1660, the Granary Burying Ground in Massachusetts is the city of Boston's third-oldest cemetery. Located on Tremont Street, it is the final resting place for many notable Revolutionary War-era patriots, including three signers of the Declaration of Independence, Paul Revere and the five...
in Boston.