Hobart Baldwin Bigelow (May 16, 1834 – October 12, 1891) was an American politician and the 50th Governor of Connecticut.

Hobart Baldwin Bigelow
50th Governor of Connecticut
In office
January 5, 1881 – January 3, 1883
LieutenantWilliam H. Bulkeley
Preceded byCharles B. Andrews
Succeeded byThomas M. Waller
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
In office
1875
Personal details
BornMay 16, 1834
North Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedOctober 12, 1891 (aged 57)
New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseEleanor Lewis Bigelow
Children4
ProfessionManufacturer, politician

Biography

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Bigelow was born in North Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut, on May 16, 1834. He was educated in the South Egremont Academy in Sheffield, Massachusetts. On May 6, 1857, he married Eleanor Lewis and they had four children:[1] Frank Lewis, Eleanor Mary, Walter Pierpont, and Philo Lewis, who died at two weeks.[2]

Career

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In 1851 Bigelow left there and afterward learned the machinist's trade at Guilford, Connecticut, with local companies. He became a leading manufacturer of boilers and heavy machinery. He purchased the Bigelow Manufacturing Company in 1861, which later conducted business under the name of the H.B. Bigelow & Co. He served as the company's president for life.

Bigelow served as councilman of New Haven from 1863 to 1876. He then served as mayor of New Haven from 1879 to 1881. He also served as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1875.[3]

Bigelow was the Republican nominee and was elected the Governor of Connecticut on November 2, 1880. He was sworn into office on January 5, 1881. During his term, legislation was enacted that disallowed deceptive election registration procedures and a bill was constituted that regulated companies of 12 or more employees to install fire escapes. The Storrs Agricultural School was founded and assessments were cut back on mutual life insurance companies.

Bigelow left office on January 3, 1883 and retired from public service. He was a delegate to Republican National Convention from Connecticut, 1880.[4]

Death

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On October 12, 1891, Bigelow died at the New Haven House hotel, aged 57. He is interred at Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Hobart B. Bigelow". National Governors Association. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  2. ^ "Hobart B. Bigelow". Bigelow Society, Inc. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  3. ^ Hobart B. Bigelow. The governors of Connecticut: biographies. 1905. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  4. ^ "Hobart B. Bigelow". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Connecticut
1880
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Connecticut
1881–1883
Succeeded by