Trumbull, Benjamin

TRUMBULL, BENJAMIN. (1735–1820). Clergyman and historian. Connecticut. Eldest son of Benjamin Trumbull Sr., Trumbull was graduated from Yale College in 1759 and studied theology under Eleazar Wheelock. On 24 December 1760 he became pastor of the Congregational Church in New Haven, where, save for six months in 1776, he served continuously until his death sixty years later. His single absence was to serve as chaplain of Wadsworth's Brigade from 24 June to 25 December 1776. At the urging of prominent citizens of Connecticut, including Governor Jonathan Trumbull, he undertook to write the history of his state. Without neglecting his pastoral duties, and working under great difficulties, it took him more than 20 years to publish his Complete History of Connecticut from 1630 to 1713 (1797). An expanded, two volume edition appeared in 1818: Complete History of Connecticut … to the Year 1764. His General History of the United States … 1492–1792 was to be a three-volume work, but he lived to complete only the first volume, to the year 1765, which appeared in 1810. He published 16 other pamphlets and books, three of them political and the others religious in nature. From material collected by Trumbull, A Compendium of the Indian Wars in New England, edited by F. B. Hartranft, was published in 1924. Trumbull's faithful chronicle of events in Connecticut retains considerable historical value.

SEE ALSO Trumbull Family; Trumbull, John.

                     revised by Harold E. Selesky