Cushing, Thomas, 1725-1788

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Thomas Cushing III (March 24, 1725 – February 28, 1788) was an American Founding Father, lawyer, merchant, and statesman from Boston, Massachusetts. Active in Boston politics, he represented the city in the provincial assembly from 1761 to its dissolution in 1774, serving as the lower house's speaker for most of those years. Because of his role as speaker, his signature was affixed to many documents protesting British policies, leading officials in London to consider him a dangerous radical. He engaged in extended communications with Benjamin Franklin who at times lobbied on behalf of the legislature's interests in London, seeking ways to reduce the rising tensions of the American Revolution.

Born in Boston, the capital of the British Province of Massachusetts Bay, Cushing got his early education at the Boston Latin School and then attended Harvard where he graduated in 1744. He studied law and was admitted to the bar, after which he entered the family merchant business. In 1753, Cushing entered politics, winning election as a Boston selectman. He continued in that office until 1763 and was also elected to the general court in 1761. In May 1766 Cushing was chosen to be speaker of the assembly, holding the post until the assembly was dissolved in October 1774.

Despite his opposition to British policies, Cushing did not strongly support the revolution at first. In spite of this, Cushing represented Massachusetts in the First (during which he signed the Continental Association) and Second Continental Congresses but was voted out when he opposed independence. Despite this, he remained politically active after independence, continuing to serve in the state government. During the Revolutionary War, he was a commissary responsible for provisioning the military, a position he used to enrich the family merchant business. He was elected the state's first lieutenant governor in 1780. Politically associated with fellow merchant Governor John Hancock, he remained lieutenant governor until his death in 1788, briefly serving as acting governor in 1785 between the resignation of Hancock and the election of James Bowdoin.

Cushing died in Boston on February 28, 1788, while serving as lieutenant governor. He was buried in Boston's Granary Burying Ground.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Jonathan Loring Ausin letter to Thomas Cushing, 1781 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Purviance, Samuel Dinsmore, 1774-1806. Correspondence [manuscript] 1775-1787. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Miscellaneous Benjamin Franklin Collections, 1710-1822 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Vol. ccxc. (ff. 538). General Correspondence 21 Apr.-June, 1766.George III of England: Correspondence of the Duke of Newcastle, Sec. of State, etc.: 1760-1768.includes:ff. 1, 358, 499 Robert Henley, 1st Baron Henley; 1st Earl of Nottingham 1764; Lord... British Library
creatorOf Cushing, William, 1732-1810. William Cushing family papers, 1657-1840. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume III, Miscellany, 1756-1807 Cornell University Library
creatorOf Adams, John, 1735-1826. Massachusetts papers, 1749-1777 Massachusetts Historical Society
creatorOf Purviance, Samuel. Samuel Purviance correspondence, 1775-1805. Massachusetts Historical Society
creatorOf Courtenay, Bentley,. Papers collected by Bentley Courtenay [manuscript], 1775-1805. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Cushing, Thomas, 1725-1788. ALS : Boston, to John Hancock, Philadelphia, 1777 Sept. 10. Boston Public Library, Central Library in Copley Square
referencedIn Vol. ccxcii. (ff. 450). General Correspondence Sept.-20 Nov. 1766.George III of England: Correspondence of the Duke of Newcastle, Sec. of State, etc.: 1760-1768.includes:f. 1 William Barford, Fellow of King's College Cambridge, Public Orator: Letters... British Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
creatorOf Lee, Henry, 1756-1818. Papers, 1768-1816. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Adams, John, 1735-1826. Letter, 1778 December 8, Passy [France], to Thomas Cushing [n.p.]. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 13 -- Miscellaneous Franklin Materials, 1640-1791 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Hancock family. Hancock family papers, 1728-1815. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 2 -- Letters to Franklin, 1777 January-1778 March American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 14 -- Materials held at the University of Pennsylvania, 1705-1788 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Fire Society (Boston, Mass.). Papers, 1741-1805. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Selected materials relating to America, 1754-1806, 1754-1806 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Silas Deane letters, 1767-1785 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers, 1726-1907, (bulk 1770-1789) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
creatorOf Cushing, Thomas, 1725-1788. Autograph letter signed : Boston, to Capt. Darby, 1769 Dec. 16. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Royal Society of Arts (Great Britain). Selected materials relating to America, 1754-1806. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Cushing, Thomas, 1725-1788. Autograph letter signed : to Sam Holton, Esq., 1783 Mar. 19. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Courtenay, Bentley,. Papers collected by Bentley Courtenay [manuscript], 1775-1805. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Cushing, Thomas, 1725-1788. Thomas Cushing correspondence, 1775-1776. Library of Congress
creatorOf Cushing, Nathaniel, 1762-1827. Papers, 1776-1827. Library of Congress
creatorOf Cushing family. Cushing-Orne papers, 1730-1922. Library of Congress
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 8 -- Letters to Franklin, 1783 December-1786 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Cushing family. Papers II, 1773-1857. Massachusetts Historical Society
creatorOf Mauduit, Jasper. Papers, 1760-1767. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Kingsbury, Jacob, 1756-1837. Jacob Kingsbury papers, 1727-1856 (bulk 1800-1825). Library of Congress
referencedIn Boston (Mass.). Selectmen. Appointment of Samuel Danforth of Billerica, Mass., as surveyor, 1719 February 16. New England Historic Genealogical Society
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 1 -- Letters to Franklin, 1730-1776 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Sargent, Lucius M. (Lucius Manlius), 1786-1867. Letters of Lucius M. Sargent [manuscript], 1834-1851. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Thomas Cushing letter to Mathew Irwin, 1776 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn John de Neufville & Son (Amsterdam, Netherlands). Records, 1780-1853 (bulk 1780-1786). Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
referencedIn De Berdt, Dennys, 1694-1770. Dennys De Berdt copybook, 1765-1770. Library of Congress
referencedIn Records of Boston merchants engaged in foreign trade, 1739-1887 (inclusive). Harvard Business School, Knowledge and Library Services/Baker Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams, John, 1735-1826. person
associatedWith Austin, Jonathan Loring, 1748-1826 person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Boston Latin School (Boston, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Boston (Mass.). Selectmen. corporateBody
associatedWith Courtenay, Bentley, person
associatedWith Cushing family. family
associatedWith Cushing, Nathaniel, 1762-1827. person
associatedWith Cushing, William, 1732-1810. person
associatedWith Darby, Capt, person
associatedWith Deane, Silas, 1737-1789 person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
correspondedWith De Berdt, Dennys, 1694-1770. person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Fire Society (Boston, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790 person
associatedWith Hancock family. family
correspondedWith Hancock, John, 1737-1793 person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Harvard University corporateBody
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith Holton, Sam, Esq, person
associatedWith Irwin, Matthew person
associatedWith John de Neufville & Son (Amsterdam, Netherlands) corporateBody
correspondedWith Kingsbury, Jacob, 1756-1837. person
associatedWith Lee, Henry, 1756-1818. person
associatedWith Massachusetts. Governor corporateBody
associatedWith Massachusetts. Governor (1780-1785 : Hancock) corporateBody
associatedWith Massachusetts. Governor (1785-1787 : Bowdoin) person
associatedWith Massachusetts. Governor (1787-1793 : Hancock) corporateBody
associatedWith Massachusetts. Office of Lieutenant Governor corporateBody
associatedWith Mauduit, Jasper. person
associatedWith Purviance, Samuel. person
associatedWith Purviance, Samuel Dinsmore, 1774-1806. person
associatedWith Royal Society of Arts (Great Britain). corporateBody
associatedWith Sargent, Lucius M. (Lucius Manlius), 1786-1867. person
correspondedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Strang, Andrew person
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Boston MA US
Cambridge MA US
Boston MA US
Subject
Occupation
Businessmen
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Governors
Lawyers
Lieutenant governors
Merchants
Public officials
State Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1725-03-24

Death 1788-02-28

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

Information

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