Thomas Porter (Vermont politician)


Thomas Porter was a Connecticut and Vermont military and political figure who served as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives.

Biography

Thomas Porter was born in Farmington, Connecticut Colony, on February 15, 1734 and became a farmer in Cornwall. He served with the British during the French and Indian War and held several local offices, including member of the Connecticut House of Representatives.
Porter served against the British at the start of the American Revolution as a Captain in the Connecticut Militia, and relocated to Tinmouth, Vermont in 1779.
In 1780 Porter was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives. He served until 1782 and was Speaker of the House during his entire House tenure.
Porter resigned as Speaker to accept election to the Governor's Council, on which he served until 1795.
From 1781 to 1782 Porter was Assistant Judge of the Rutland County Court, and he was the court's Chief Judge from 1788 to 1789.
In 1783 Porter became a Judge on the Vermont Supreme Court, serving until 1785.
He died in Granville, New York on May 30, 1833. Porter was buried at Sawyer Cemetery in Tinmouth.
Porter was the father of college president and theologian Ebenezer Porter.