Oliver Wolcott

Oliver Wolcott (born December 1, 1726 in Windsor , Colony of Connecticut of the Kingdom of Great Britain , today Connecticut USA ; † December 1, 1797 in Farmington , Connecticut , USA) was a British-American military and politician who signed the Declaration of Independence for Connecticut and is thus one of the founding fathers of the United States .

Wolcott was the second of fourteen children to the Royal Connecticut Governor Roger Wolcott . He graduated from Yale College in 1747 . During the French and Indian War he was authorized to set up a militia company and served the British king as captain of this unit in the northern border region. After the war Wolcott studied medicine. From 1751 to 1771 he was sheriff of the newly formed Litchfield County (Connecticut). Wolcott rejoined the militia and participated in the War of Independence as Brigadier General of the Connecticut Forces .

The Continental Congress appointed Wolcott as Indian Affairs Commissioner. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1775. In 1776 he became seriously ill and therefore signed the declaration of independence a little later than the other signatories. 1776–1778 he was involved in military operations. 1778-1784 he sat again in Congress.

Wolcott was appointed Indian Affairs Commissioner for a second time. In 1786 he was elected lieutenant governor of Connecticut. In 1796 he succeeded Samuel Huntington in the office of governor of Connecticut after his death . He was re-elected and died in office. Wolcott is buried in the East Cemetery in Litchfield .

Wolcott was a passionate poet throughout his life.

His son Oliver Wolcott Jr. became governor of Connecticut, like his father and grandfather.

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personal data
SURNAME	Wolcott, Oliver
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Founding father of the USA
DATE OF BIRTH	December 1, 1726
PLACE OF BIRTH	Windsor , Connecticut
DATE OF DEATH	December 1, 1797
Place of death	Farmington , Connecticut