Thomas B. Butler

Thomas Belden Butler (August 22, 1806 – June 8, 1873) was a Whig politician from Connecticut. He was Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court from 1870 to 1873. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut's 4th congressional district from 1849 to 1851. He had previously served as a member of the Connecticut Senate representing the 12th District from 1847 to 1848. In 1848, he was President pro tempore of the Connecticut Senate.[1] He also had served as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1832 to 1834, from 1837 to 1838, from 1843 to 1844, and from 1846 to 1847.[2]

Thomas Belden Butler
Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court
In office 1870–1873
Preceded by	William L. Storrs
Succeeded by	Origen S. Seymour
Associate Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court
In office 1861–1873
Succeeded by	James Phelps
Member of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut's 4th congressional district
In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851
Preceded by	Truman Smith
Succeeded by	Origen S. Seymour
Member of the Connecticut Senate from the 12th district
In office 1838–1840
Preceded by	Charles Hawley
Succeeded by	Joshua Ferris
In office 1848–1849
Preceded by	Charles Marvin
Succeeded by	Joshua Ferris
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk
In office 1832–1834 Serving with John Loundsbury
Preceded by	Eli Bennett, David Roberts
Succeeded by	Samuel Comstock, Benjamin Isaacs
In office 1837–1838 Serving with Lewis Gregory
Preceded by	Noah Wilcox, Lewis Gregory
Succeeded by	Lewis Gregory, Timothy Merwin
In office 1843–1844 Serving with Matthew Wilcox
Preceded by	Henry Selleck, Matthew Wilcox
Succeeded by	Algernon Beard, Charles Thomas
In office 1846–1847 Serving with William S. Lockwood
Preceded by	Algernon Beard, William S. Lockwood
Succeeded by	Samuel Jarvis, Asa Hill
Personal details
Born	August 22, 1806 Wethersfield, Connecticut
Died	June 8, 1873 (aged 66) Norwalk, Connecticut
Resting place	Union Cemetery Norwalk, Connecticut
Political party	Whig Party
Residence	Norwalk, Connecticut
Alma mater	Yale University (Medicine, 1828)
Occupation	physician, lawyer

Early life

Butler was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, the son of Frederick Butler and Mary Belden. He attended the common schools. He was graduated from the medical department of Yale University in 1828 and commenced practice in Norwalk, Connecticut. Later, he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1837 and commenced practice in Norwalk.[2]

Political career

He served as member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1832 to 1846.[2]

He served in the Connecticut Senate in 1847 and 1848.

Butler was elected as a Whig to the Thirty-first Congress (March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1850 to the Thirty-second Congress.

He served as judge of the superior court in 1855.He was appointed associate justice of the State supreme court in 1861 and became chief justice of the same court in 1870.

He died in Norwalk, Connecticut, June 8, 1873. He was interred in Union Cemetery in Norwalk.[2]

Writing

Butler was the author of The Philosophy of the Weather (1856) and The Atmospheric System Developed : a Weather Book for Practical Men (1870).[3]

References

1. SOTS:Presidents Pro Tempore
2. Connecticut State Library
3. Yale Obituary Record

External links

• United States Congress. "Thomas B. Butler (id: B001191)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• "Thomas B. Butler". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2010-02-14.