Matthew Lyons

Matthew Lyons: Biography in Details

Who is Matthew Lyons?

Matthew Lyons was well known as an American politician and soldier.

He was also a printer and farmer. He served as a United States Representative from both Vermont and Kentucky.

Matthew Lyons: Bio, Birth Facts, Family, and Childhood

Matthew Lyons was born in 1749, July 14 in County Wicklow, Ireland.

Lyon’s father was executed for treason against the British government of Ireland. That time Lyon worked as a boy to help support his widowed mother.

Later he learned to print and also worked as a farmer and a merchant after immigrating to Connecticut and Woodbury in 1764.

What caused Matthew Lyons’s death?

Matthew Lyons died on August 1, 1822, at the age of 73 in Spadra Bluff, Arkansas, U.S.

Matthew Lyons: Education History

Mattew’s education history and the name of the school and universities he attended is not known.

Matthew Lyons: Early, Profession life and Career

While living in Connecticut, Matthew Lyons was acquainted with many individuals who became the first white settlers of Vermont.

In 1774, Lyon moved to Wallingford, Vermont, where he farmed and organized a company of militia. He was a military officer in Colonel Seth Warner’s regiment in Canada in 1775.

Again in July 1776, he was commissioned as a second commissioned officer in the Green Mountain Boys’ regiment. He moved to Arlington, Vermont, in 1777.

By working hard with all his labor, he was permitted and saved enough money to purchase the remainder of his indenture, and he became a free man in 1768.

Since 1779 to 1783, Lyon served as a member from Arlington in the Vermont House of Representatives.

He founded Fair Haven, Vermont in 1783 and returned to the state House of Representatives from 1783 to 1796 as its member where his political career started.

Matthew Lyons also had operated various kinds of mills in Fair Haven including the gristmill, sawmill, and paper mill, in addition to an iron foundry.

In 1793, he started a printing office and published the Farmers’ Library newspaper; though his son James was the nominal owner, Matthew Lyon oversaw the paper’s management and supplied much of its content.

Later the newspaper changed its name to the Fair Haven Gazette.

It was published until Lyon sold its works. In 1794, Lyon sold the printing press and other equipment for the Gazette to Reverend Samuel Williams and Judge Samuel Williams of Rutland, who used it to found the Rutland Herald.

Matthew Lyons enters into politics and was an unsuccessful candidate for election in the Second and Third Congresses.

He was unsuccessful but he contested the election of Israel Smith to the Fourth Congress.

Lyon then finally won the election as a Democratic-Republican to the Fifth and Sixth Congresses (March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1801).

He did not stand as the candidate for renomination in 1800. 

On Jan 30, 1798, Griswold was seeking to attract Lyon and create the issue.

But Lyon wasn’t interested in him and was ignoring him. Griswold was also of another opposite political party.

Griswold was so angry and insulted Lyon at the time of profanity by calling Lyon, a scoundrel.

And Griswold and Lyon are frighted by each other for the interest of the command man.

Between fighting furiously Lyon spat tobacco juice on Griswold,  and earn the nickname “The Spitting Lyon” for him.

Matthew Lyons later apologized to the House that he had not known it was in session when he confronted Griswold.

He said it was neither disrespectful to the body and also provided a written letter of apology.

Though Griswold wasn’t satisfied with the apology. So, on February 15, 1798, Griswold re-attacked Lyon with a wooden cane, beating to the head and shoulders in view of other representatives on the House floor.

Lyon defended himself with the tongs until other Congressmen broke up the fight, with several pulling Griswold by his legs to get him to let go of Lyon.

The committee investigates the matter and recommended the censure of both Lyon and Griswold.

The issue was resolved when both Lyon and Griswold promised the House that they would keep the peace and remain on good behavior.

In the election of 1800, the vote went to the House of Representatives because of a tie in electoral votes between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, who were supposed to have been the Democratic-Republican candidates for president and vice president respectively.

Many Federalists decided Burr as president was preferable to Jefferson.

Lyon moved to Kentucky by 180 and he settled in Eddyville in Livingston County.

He became a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1802 and was elected to the 8th United States Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses

Matthew Lyons: Salary and Net Worth

As of 2023, Matthew Lyons’ net worth was estimated to be over $2.5 million, and his salary is unknown.

Matthew Lyons: Rumors and Controversy

Matthew Lyons was sentenced to four months in a 16 feet X 12 feet jail cell used for felons, counterfeiters, thieves, and runaway slaves in Vergennes, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and court costs; Judge William Paterson lamented being unable to give a harsher punishment.

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Matthew Lyons's Birthday Dates