Paul Brigham

Paul Brigham (January 6, 1746 – June 15, 1824) was a Revolutionary soldier and Democratic-Republican politician and the first Lieutenant Governor and the second Governor of the state of Vermont.

Biography
Brigham, son of Paul and Catherine (Turner) Brigham, was born January 6, 1746 in Coventry, Tolland County, Connecticut. He married Lydia Sawyer (of Hebron, Connecticut) on October 3, 1767, and the couple had five children.

Career
Brigham served from January 1, 1777 to April 22, 1781, as a Captain in the Connecticut Militia during the Revolutionary War. He was a Company Commander of Continental troops under the command of General George Washington and wintered in Valley Forge during the winter of 1777.

In the spring of 1782 Brigham and his family moved to Norwich, Vermont, where he was a farmer and a land speculator. He served as High Sheriff of Windsor County, Vermont, for five years and as Major General of the Vermont Militia. He was chief judge of the county court for five years, and was a presidential elector for Vermont in 1792. He was on the Governor's Council from 1792 to 1796.

Brigham was elected lieutenant governor of Vermont from 1796 to 1813 and again from 1815 until 1820. Upon the resignation and death of Governor Thomas Chittenden, he served for a short time as the second Governor of Vermont from August 25 – October 16, 1797, when the new Governor, Isaac Tichenor, was sworn in. Brigham then resumed his duties as Lieutenant Governor. He retired and returned to his home in Norwich in 1820.

Death and legacy
Brigham died in Norwich on June 16, 1824, is interred at Fairview Cemetery, in his home town of Norwich, Vermont. The journal of his army experiences was published as "A Revolutionary Diary of Captain Paul Brigham, November 19, 1777-September 4, 1778."

The obituary from the New-Hampshire Patriot (NH), July 12, 1824, p. 3, reads: "In Norwich, Vt. on the 15th ult. PAUL BRIGHAM, in the 79th year of his age. Extensively known, eulogy would add nothing to the right which the virtuous actions of a good man justly claim for the deceased. For four years he served as a Captain in the war for Independence; five years was the High Sheriff of Windsor county; a Major General of Militia; five years Chief Judge of the County Court; and 22 of 24 succeeding years Lieutenant Governor of this State. In all these offices he sustained the reputation of discharging their several duties to the satisfaction of his fellow citizens; and received their almost unanimous suffrages for the latter, until admonished by the infirmities of age, that retirement was necessary, he declined any further public service.  Vt. Journal."