Joshua Coit

Joshua Coit (October 7, 1758 – September 5, 1798) was an eighteenth-century American lawyer and politician. He served as a United States Representative from Connecticut.

Joshua Coit
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Connecticut's At-large district
In office
March 4, 1793 – September 5, 1798
Preceded byAmasa Learned
Succeeded byZephaniah Swift
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
In office
1784-1785
1789-1790
1792-1793
Personal details
Born(1758-10-07)October 7, 1758
New London, Connecticut Colony, British America
DiedSeptember 5, 1798(1798-09-05) (aged 39)
New London, Connecticut, U.S.
Citizenship United States
Political partyPro-Administration Party and Federalist
Spouse(s)Ann Borradell Hallam Coit
ChildrenRobert Coit, Lydia Coit, Leonard Coit, Fanny Coit, Nancy Coit and Susan Coit
ParentsJoseph Coit and Lydia (Lathrop) Coit
Alma materHarvard College
OccupationLawyer, Politician

Early life and career

Coit was born in New London in the Connecticut Colony, the son of Joseph Coit and Lydia (Lathrop) Coit.[1] He attended the common schools and graduated from Harvard College in 1776. Coit studied law, was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law in New London in 1779.[2]

He served in the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1784 to 1785, 1789 to 1790, 1792 and 1793.[3] Coit served as clerk during several terms and as speaker in 1793.[4] He was elected as a Pro-Administration Party candidate to the Third United States Congress, and was reelected as a Federalist candidate to the Fourth United States Congress and the Fifth United States Congress, serving from 1793 until 1798.[5] He was chairman of Committee on Elections in the Fifth Congress. Coit served as US representative from March 4, 1793, until his death in New London. He is interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London.[6]

Personal life

Coit married Ann Borradell Hallam (1765–1844) in 1784.[7] They had six children:[8][9]

  • Robert Coit (1785–1874), who married Charlotte Coit (1798–1874)
  • Lydia Coit
  • Leonard Coit
  • Fanny Coit (1792–1820)
  • Nancy Coit (1795–1883), who married Edward Learned (1786–1849)
  • Susan Coit

See also

References
  1. "Joshua Coit". Ancestry.com. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  2. "Joshua Coit". infoplease. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  3. "Coit, Joshua (1758-1798)". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  4. "COIT, Joshua, (1758 - 1798)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  5. "Rep. Joshua Coit". Govtrack.us. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  6. "Joshua Coit". Find A Grave. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  7. "Ann Borradell Hallam Coit". Find A Grave. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  8. "Fanny Coit". Find A Grave. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  9. "Nancy Coit Learned". Find A Grave. Retrieved December 30, 2012.

Further reading
  • "Joshua Coit, American Federalist, 1758-1798" by Destler and Chester McArthur, published by the Wesleyan University Press, 1962.


U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Jonathan Sturges		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Connecticut's at-large congressional district
1789–1798		 Succeeded by
Vacant
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