Clark Bissell

Clark Bissell ( born September 7, 1782 Lebanon, New London County, Connecticut; † September 15, 1857 in Norwalk, Connecticut ) was an American politician and governor of the U.S. state of Connecticut. He was a member of the Whig party.

Early years and political rise

Bissell graduated in 1806 at Yale University, then studied law and was then admitted as a solicitor in 1809. He decided rather late to go into politics. In 1929 he ran for the House of Representatives from Connecticut and won. Then he was always re-elected again until 1841. He was then 1842-1843 in the Senate of Connecticut. In addition, he also worked 1829-1839 as an Associate Justice on the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors. Bissell 1846 ran unsuccessfully for the post of governor of Connecticut.

Governor of Connecticut

He was in 1847 elected governor of Connecticut in 1848 and re-elected. During his tenure, he advocated a reform of the educational system, taxes, as well as a liquor prohibition; but only inconsequential laws were passed. He also lodged an objection regarding a divorce decision, which was considered sabotage of the legislative power. As a result, he was not 1849 again re-elected.

Further CV

After leaving office, he remained active in public service. He was re-elected in 1850 in Connecticut's House of Representatives. He also continued his work as a professor of law at Yale University, a position in which he was engaged during his time as governor. Clark Bissell died on September 15, 1857 and was buried in the Norwalk Union Cemetery.

Clark Bissell was married to Sally Sherwood. The couple had six children together.