Clark Bissell

Clark Bissell (September 7, 1782 – September 15, 1857) was the 34th Governor of Connecticut. He served as an Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court from 1829 to 1839. He had previously served as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives representing Norwalk and the Connecticut Senate representing the 12th District.

Clark Bissell
34th Governor of Connecticut
In office
May 5, 1847 – May 2, 1849
LieutenantCharles J. McCurdy
Preceded byIsaac Toucey
Succeeded byJoseph Trumbull
Member of the Connecticut Senate
from the 12th district
In office
1842–1844
Preceded byJoshua Ferris
Succeeded byDarius Mead
Member of the
Connecticut House of Representatives
from Norwalk
In office
1829–1830
Preceded byBenjamin Isaacs,
Samuel B. Warren
Succeeded byThaddeus Betts,
Eli Bennett
In office
1841–1842
Serving with Henry Selleck
Preceded byAlgernon Beard,
Joseph W. Hubbell
Succeeded byHenry Selleck,
Matthew Wilcox
In office
1850–1851
Serving with Algernon Beard
Preceded byGould D. Jennings,
William H. Benedict
Succeeded byEbenezer Hill,
Henry M. Prowitt
Personal details
BornLebanon, Connecticut
DiedSeptember 15, 1857(1857-09-15) (aged 75)
Resting placeUnion Cemetery, Norwalk, Connecticut
Political partyWhig
Spouse(s)Sally Sherwood Bissell
Children6
Alma materYale College
Professionlawyer, politician

Early life

Bissell was born in Lebanon, Connecticut on September 7, 1782. He studied at Yale College and graduated in 1806. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1809. He married Sally Sherwood and they had six children.

Politics

Becoming a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1829, Bissell was re-elected in 1841, and served in the Connecticut Senate from 1842 to 1843. He also served as an associate judge of the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors from 1829 to 1839.[1]

Governor of Connecticut

Bissell ran unsuccessfully for the Connecticut governorship in 1846. However, he was elected in 1847 as Governor of Connecticut and was re-elected in 1848. During his term, he advocated for reform in education, taxes, and liquor prohibition, however, only insignificant legislation was passed. He vetoed a resolution on divorce, and it was looked upon as sabotaging the legislature's power. Because of this, he was not renominated for the 1849 election.[2]

After completing his term as the Governor, Bissell continued as a Professor of Law at Yale University, a position he was appointed to during his governorship. He also served in the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1850.

Death

Bissell died on September 15, 1857. He is interred at Norwalk Union Cemetery, Norwalk, Connecticut.[3]

References
  1. "Clark Bissell". National Governors Association. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  2. "Clark Bissell". National Governors Association. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  3. "Clark Bissell". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Roger Sherman Baldwin		 Whig nominee for Governor of Connecticut
1846, 1847, 1848		 Succeeded by
Joseph Trumbull
Preceded by
Benjamin Isaacs
Samuel B. Warren		 Member of the
Connecticut House of Representatives
from Norwalk
1829–1830
With: Charles W. Taylor		 Succeeded by
Thaddeus Betts
Eli Bennett
Preceded by
Algernon Beard
Joseph W. Hubbell		 Member of the
Connecticut House of Representatives
from Norwalk
1841–1842
With: Henry Selleck		 Succeeded by
Henry Selleck
Matthew Wilcox
Preceded by
Joshua Ferris		 Member of the Connecticut Senate
from the 12th district
1842–1844		 Succeeded by
Darius Mead
Preceded by
Isaac Toucey		 List of Governors of Connecticut
1847–1849		 Succeeded by
Joseph Trumbull
Preceded by
Gould D. Jennings
William H. Benedict		 Member of the
Connecticut House of Representatives
from Norwalk
1850–1851
With: Algernon Beard		 Succeeded by
Ebenezer Hill
Henry M. Prowitt
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