Thaddeus Betts

Thaddeus Laddins Betts (February 4, 1789 – April 7, 1840) was the 32nd and 34th Lieutenant Governor of the state of Connecticut from 1832 to 1833 and from 1834 to 1835, and a United States Senator from Connecticut from 1839 to 1840. He had previously served in the Connecticut Senate representing the 12th District and Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk, Connecticut.

Not to be confused with Thaddeus Betts, his grandfather who also served in the Connecticut Assembly.

"Senator Betts" redirects here. For other uses, see Senator Betts (disambiguation).

Thaddeus Laddins Betts
United States senator from Connecticut
In office March 4, 1839 – April 7, 1840
Preceded by	John M. Niles
Succeeded by	Jabez W. Huntington
32nd and 34th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut
In office May 1, 1831 – May 1, 1833
Governor	John Samuel Peters
Preceded by	John Samuel Peters
Succeeded by	Ebenezer Stoddard
In office May 7, 1834 – May 6, 1835
Governor	Samuel A. Foot
Preceded by	Ebenezer Stoddard
Succeeded by	Ebenezer Stoddard
Member of the Connecticut Senate from the 12th District
In office 1831–1832
Preceded by	Charles Hawley
Succeeded by	Charles Hawley
At-large member of the Connecticut Senate
In office 1828–1830
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk
In office May 1815 – October 1815 Serving with Benjamin Isaacs
Preceded by	Jacob Osborne, Lewis Mallory
Succeeded by	Benjamin Isaacs, John Eversley
In office 1830–1831 Serving with Eli Bennett
Preceded by	Clark Bissell, Charles W. Taylor
Succeeded by	Eli Bennett, David Roberts
Personal details
Born	(1789-02-04)February 4, 1789 Norwalk, Connecticut
Died	April 7, 1840(1840-04-07) (aged 51) Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Union Cemetery, Norwalk
Political party	Whig
Spouse(s)	Antoinette Cannon Betts
Alma mater	Yale College
Occupation	lawyer

Biography

Betts was born in Norwalk, Connecticut. He was the son of William Maltby Betts (1759-1832) and Lucretia (Gregory) Betts (1763-1830). He completed preparatory studies, then attended and was graduated from Yale College in 1807. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1810. He began his law practice in Norwalk. He married Antoinette Cannon who was born on April 20, 1789, and died on February 26, 1864.[1]

Career

Betts was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1815. He was a member of the Connecticut Senate in 1828 as a senator at-large, and was again a member of the state house of representatives in 1830. Betts was then a member of the Connecticut Senate in 1831 representing the 12th District.[2]

In 1832 and 1834, Betts was elected the 32nd and 34th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut and served three terms, under Governors John Samuel Peters from 1831 to 1833 and under Samuel A. Foot from 1834 to 1835.

Elected as a Whig to the U.S. Senate, Betts served from March 4, 1839 until his death in 1840.[3]

Death

Betts died in Washington, D.C. on April 7, 1840 (age 51 years, 63 days). The funeral took place at the Capitol with the Chaplains to Congress officiating and the President of the United States, Martin Van Buren, attending.[4] He is interred at Union Cemetery, Norwalk, Connecticut. There is a cenotaph for him at the Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.[2]

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1790–1899)

References

1. "Thaddeus Betts". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
2. "Thaddeus Betts". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
3. "Thaddeus Betts". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
4. "Thaddeus Betts". Historic Congressional Cemetery. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2013.

External links

• United States Congress. "Thaddeus Betts (id: B000428)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• "Thaddeus Betts". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2010-02-14.

U.S. Senate
Preceded by Jacob Osborne Lewis Mallory	Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk May 1815 – October 1815 With: Benjamin Isaacs	Succeeded by Benjamin Isaacs John Eversley
Preceded by	Connecticut senator At-large 1828–1830	Succeeded by District elections
Preceded by Clark Bissell Charles W. Taylor	Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Norwalk 1830–1831 With: Eli B. Bennett	Succeeded by Eli Bennett David Roberts
Preceded by Charles Hawley	Connecticut senator from the 12th District 1831–1832	Succeeded by Charles Hawley
Preceded by John Samuel Peters	Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut 1832–1833	Succeeded by Ebenezer Stoddard
Preceded by Ebenezer Stoddard	Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut 1834–1835	Succeeded by Ebenezer Stoddard
Preceded by John M. Niles	U.S. senator (Class 1) from Connecticut March 4, 1839 – April 7, 1840 Served alongside: Perry Smith	Succeeded by Jabez W. Huntington