Phineas C. Lounsbury

Phineas Chapman Lounsbury (January 10, 1841 - June 22, 1925) was an American politician and the 53rd Governor of Connecticut.

Biography

Lounsbury was born in Ridgefield, Connecticut on January 10, 1841, the son of Nathan Lounsbury (1807 - 1894), and Delia A Scofield Lounsbury (1809 - 1895).^[1] He worked on his father's farm and attended the local schools. He married Jennie Wright.^[2]

Career

In New York City, he secured a position as clerk in a shoe store, and in time familiarized himself with all departments of the business. When the civil war broke out Lounsbury enlisted as a private in the Seventeenth Connecticut Regiment, but after four months' active service wag compelled by severe sickness to return, being honorably discharged and recommended for a pension, which he would not accept.^[3]

Having laid the foundations for a successful commercial career; he began, upon attaining his majority in 1862, the manufacture of shoes in New Haven under the firm name of Lounsbury Brothers. The business was afterward moved to South Norwalk, and carried on under the firm name of Launsbury, Matthewson & Co.

Lounsbury became a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1874 and held that position till 1876.

Winning the 1886 Republican gubernatorial nomination, Lounsbury was elected governor by a legislative decision. During his term, he signed the Incorrigible Criminal Act. He also advocated for instituting a 60-hour work week for women and children under 16.^[2] He did not run for re-election and retired from public service.

After serving as the Governor of Connecticut, Lounsbury returned to his business and served as president of the Connecticut Merchants Exchange National Bank. His brother, George Edward Lounsbury, also became the Governor of Connecticut from 1899 to 1901. In 1883, he built a Great Camp, Echo Camp, on Raquette Lake in the Adirondack.

Death

Lounsbury died on June 22, 1925 in the Adirondack. He is interred at Lounsbury Cemetery, Ridgefield, Fairfield County, Connecticut.^[1]

References

Further reading

• Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978. Greenwood Press, 1988. ISBN 0-313-28093-2

External links

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Governors of Connecticut Trumbull, Sr. M. Griswold Huntington Wolcott, Sr. Trumbull Jr. Treadwall R. Griswold Smith Wolcott Jr. Tomlinson Peters Edwards Foot Edwards Ellsworth Cleveland R. S. Baldwin Toucey Bissell J. Trumbull Seymour Pond Dutton Minor Holley Buckingham Hawley English Jewell English Jewell Ingersoll Hubbard Andrews Bigelow Waller Harrison P. Lounsbury Bulkeley Morris Coffin Cooke G. Lounsbury McLean Chamberlain Roberts Woodruff Lilley Weeks S. Baldwin Holcomb Lake Templeton Bingham J. H. Trumbull Cross R. E. Baldwin Hurley R. E. Baldwin Snow McConaughy Shannon Bowles Lodge Ribicoff Dempsey Meskill Grasso O'Neill Weicker Rowland Rell Malloy