Trumbull, Jonathan

Trumbull, Jonathan, an American patriot, was born at Lebanon, Connecticut, 12th October 1710, and graduated at Harvard in 1727. He was successively judge, deputy-governor, and governor (1769-83) of Connecticut, and took a very prominent part in forwarding the war of independence. Washington placed great reliance on him, and frequently consulted him: to this habit, and his phrase, often repeated when in doubt, 'Let us hear what Brother Jonathan says,' has been traced the name which stands (though not so generally now as 'Uncle Sam') for a personification of the United States as 'John Bull' does for England. Trumbull died 17th August 1785. There is a Life by J. W. Stuart (Hartford, 1857).—His son John (1756-1843) was eminent as a painter. His best works are several portraits of Washington and others, 'The Battle of Bunker Hill,' 'Death of Montgomery,' and four paintings in the capitol at Washington, representing the Declaration of Independence, the surrender of Burgoyne and of Cornwallis, and Washington's resignation. A gallery of his historical pictures, of considerable value for their portraits, &c., became the property of Yale College in return for an annuity of $1000.