Gideon Tomlinson

Gideon Tomlinson (December 31, 1780 – October 8, 1854) was a United States Senator, United States Representative, and Governor for the state of Connecticut.

Born in Stratford, he completed preparatory studies and graduated from Yale College in 1802. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Fairfield. He served as clerk of the Connecticut House of Representatives, and was elected a member of that body in 1818, also serving as speaker. He was elected to the Sixteenth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1819-March 3, 1827), and was chairman of the Committee on Commerce (Nineteenth Congress). Tomlinson was elected Governor of Connecticut 1827-1831, when he resigned. He was elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1831, to March 3, 1837. There, he served as chairman of the Committee on Pensions (Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Congresses).

He was a trustee of Trinity College, then retired to private life. He died in Fairfield on October 8, 1854 with interment in the Old Congregational Cemetery in Stratford. The Tomlinson Bridge (built 1796-98) of Fair Haven (part of New Haven) Connecticut is named after him.

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*CongBio|T000300