Return
Jonathan Meigs,
Jr.
(pronunciation: [megz] – rhymes with "eggs") (November 17,
1764 – March 29, 1825) was a Democratic-Republican
politician from Ohio. He served as the 4th Governor of Ohio
and 5th United States Postmaster General.
Meigs was born in Middletown, Connecticut, the son of Return
J. Meigs, Sr. and the descendant of early Puritan settlers
in Massachusetts. He graduated from Yale College in 1785. After
passing the bar in Connecticut, he moved to Marietta, Ohio three
years later. He was appointed the first Chief Justice of the
Ohio State Supreme Court in 1803. He served in that position
for a year before serving as a judge in the Louisiana Territory
and Michigan Territory. He returned to Ohio in 1807 to run for
governor. He won the election, but was declared ineligible for
failing to meet the residency requirements. He then was
appointed to the U.S. Senate to finish the term of John Smith
and was re-elected to his own term a year later. He resigned in
late 1810 after winning the governorship. He served two two-year
terms, resigning in April 1814 when appointed Postmaster General
by President Madison. He served until resigning in 1823 due to
ill health.
Return J. Meigs was disappointed not to have a male heir.
However, two of his younger brothers, John and Timothy, each
named a son Return Jonathan Meigs. The first of these passed the
bar in Frankfort, Kentucky, but commenced law practice in
Athens, Tennessee, and became prominent in Tennessee state
affairs before the Civil War, but moved to New York at the time
of Tennessee's secession from the Union in 1861.Among those men
who read law under his tutelage in Tennessee was William Parish
Chilton.
Meigs County, Ohio is named in his honor. (Meigs County,
Tennessee is named for his father.) |
Source: wikipedia.com
Accessed September 14, 2008.
ALSO NOTE:
I found the Marriage of Return J. Meigs (probably Sr.) to Jane
Doane on Mar. 20, 1763 in Middletown, Middlesex Co., Connecticut
marriages.
Also found Marriage of Return Jonathan Meigs (probably Sr.) & Joanna Winborn on
Feb. 14, 1765 in Middletown, Middlesex Co., Connecticut
marriages.
Also found Marriage of Return Jonathan Meigs (probably Sr.) & Grace Starr on
Dec. 22, 1774 in Middletown, Middlesex Co., Connecticut
marriages ~ Sharon Wick |