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Trumbull (JONATHAN an American patriot)

JONATHAN, an American patriot; born in Lebanon, Conn., Oct. 12, 1710; was graduated at Harvard in 1727; was successively judge, deputygovernor, and governor (1769-1783) of Connecticut; and took a very prominent part in forwarding the Revolutionary War. Washington placed great reliance on him, and frequently consulted him; to this habit, and his phrase, often repeated when in doubt, "Let us hear what Brother Jonathan says," has been traced the name which stands (though not so generally now as "Uncle Sam") for a personification of the United States as "John Bull" does for England. Trumbull died Aug. 17, 1785.