Thomas Hutchinson

Thomas Hutchinson (September 9, 1711-June 3, 1780} was the American colonial governor of Massachusetts from 1771 to 1774 and a loyalist participant in many of the events leading to the American Revolution. Thomas was born in Boston. He was a billiant man who graduated from Harvard in 1727 before his sixtenth birthday. He began a commercial career and married Mary Sanford in 1734. As his career advanced he became involved in the civil leadership of the colony, first as a selectman in Boston. By 1737 he gained election to the general Assembley to represent Boston. He remained in the Assembley until 1749, serving as the Speaker after 1746.

He was appointed to the governor's council in 1749, served as a judge in the superior court (1760-1769} and Lieutenant Governor (1758-1771. He also represented Massachusetts in the Albany Congress of 1754 which proposed a plan for the union of the British colonies.

He was acting governor in 1769 to 1771 after Governor Francis Bernard[?] returned to England. Then he was made Governor, and was the last civilian governor of the Massachusetts colony. He was folowed in office by General Thomas Gage

He is also noted for having signed the Attestation[?] concerning Phillis Wheatley being responsible for Poems on Various Subjects, Religioius and Moral[?] in 1773 which was put on display in Aldgate, London when the first book by an African American was published.