Clark Bissell, 17th Governor of the State of Connecticut
Clark Bissell, Connecticut's 17th governor (or 34th if colonial governors prior to 1776 are included), was born on September 7, 1782, in Lebanon, Connecticut. He graduated from Yale University in 1806, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1809. Bissell entered politics in 1829, serving as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives and re-elected again in 1841. He served in the State Senate from 1842 to 1843 and as an associate judge of the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors from 1829 to 1839.
Bissell was elected to the Connecticut governorship in 1847 and was reelected in 1848. During his tenure, he argued for reform in education, taxes, and liquor prohibition but no significant 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 re-nominated for the 1849 election.
After leaving office, Bissell continued to stay active in public service, serving in the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1850. He also continued to serve as a professor of law at Yale University, a position he was appointed to during his governorship. Governor Clark Bissell died on September 15, 1857, and is buried at the Norwalk Union Cemetery. Source: Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978. Greenwood Press, 1988.
The Bissell Connection to Cousin Gov. Clark Bissell
17th Governor of the State of Connecticut
4th Cousin, six times removed
Bissell “3G” Generation
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Joyce, Meredith, George, Gwen, Roger, Arthur, Eleanor, Chip, Carolyn, Betsy, Clyde
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Adelaide Lyon Boutelle ---- Richard Meredith Bissell
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Mertie Ella Bisbee ---- Herbert Hunt Bissell
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Julie Ann Richardson ---- John Hatch Bissell
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Mercy Ann Searle ---- Benoni Bliss Bissell
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Clark Bissell, b. 7 Sep 1782 Tirzah Pierce ---- Solomon Bissell Israel
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Joseph W. Bissell, b. 10 Feb 1759 -- Betsey Clark Eunice Olcott ---- Noah Bissell
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Joseph Bissell, b. 2 Jul 1731 --- Hannah Partridge Silence Burt ---- Noah Bissell
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Benjamin Bissell, b. 22 Mar 1701 -- Mary Wattle Ruth Warner ---- David Bissell
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John Bissell, b. 26 Jan 1661 -- Sarah White Mindwell Moore ---- Nathaniel Bissell
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[------------------------- Captain John Bissell - Mary -------------------------]
This chart has an error in the line from Captain John Bissell up to Clark Bissell. Below "John Bissell, b. 26 Jan 1661", etc., it should say:
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John Bissell, Jr., b. about 1625 -- Israel Mason
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[--------------------------Captain John Bissell - Mary------------ etc.
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Other lines going across need to be adjusted accordingly.
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