Tichenor, Isaac, 1754-1838

Isaac Tichenor was born on February 8, 1754 in Newark, New Jersey. A 1775 graduate of Princeton College, Tichenor studied law in Schenectady, New York before his appointment as assistant to Jacob Cuyler, Deputy Commissary General of purchases for the Northern Department, in 1777. His job as purchasing agent took him throughout New England, and he settled in Bennington and opened a law practice at the close of the Revolutionary War.

Tichenor's political career began in 1781 when he was elected to the state legislature. He served as a town representative through 1784, and was Speaker of the House in 1783 and 1784. He served as Commissary of State Purchases in 1781 and 1784, and was the Auditor of Public Accounts in 1781, 1782, 1788, 1789 and 1790. Tichenor also served as a Vermont delegate to the U.S. Congress in 1782-1783 and 1787-1789. In this capacity he was instrumental in helping settle Vermont's claims with New York State, thus paving the way for Vermont's 1789 act to determine the terms of settlement with New York, a member of the Governor's Council from 1786 to 1791, and a member of the Council of Censors in 1792 and 1813.

He was elected Judge of the Supreme Court in 1791, 1792, and 1793, and served as Chief Justice in 1793 and 1794. He served as U.S. Senator from Vermont in 1796 and 1797. Tichenor resigned from his Senate seat in 1797 to accept his election by the legislature as Vermont's third governor. He served as governor for the next 10 years. In 1807 he was defeated by Democrat Israel Smith, but Tichenor in turn upset Smith in the 1808 election and served one more term. Tichenor took a break from public service for a few years, then ran again for the U.S. Senate. He won, and served from 1815 to 1821, when, with the dissolution of the Federalist party, he retired.

Known for his "remarkably fine personal appearance,..accomplished manners and insinuating address", Tichenor was fondly known as "Jersey Slick". He died in Bennington on December 11, 1838.

From the description of Papers, 1771-1833. [microform]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86164570