First Governor of Ohio, U.S. Senator. A native of England, he was born in Carlisle and began to study medicine when he was 12 years old. In 1784, he emigrated to America with his parents and settled in Charles Town, Virginia (now in West Virginia). Tiffin attended medical school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and commenced to practice as a physician and surgeon in Charles Town after his graduation. Also an active member of the Methodist Church, he became a lay minister in 1792. In 1798, he moved to the Northwest Territory with his family and the family of his brother-in-law, Thomas Worthington, and settled in Chillicothe. With a letter of recommendation for public office signed by former President George Washington, Tiffin was appointed as Clerk of the Territorial Court of Common Pleas by Territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair. He then became a member of the Northwest Territory Legislature in 1799 and was selected by his fellow representatives as the first Speaker of the House from 1799 to 1801. Tiffin was the president of the Ohio State Constitutional Convention in 1802 and was elected as the first Governor of Ohio after the territory became a state in 1803. He served from 1803 to 1807. As Governor, his foremost priority was to secure a safe home in Ohio amidst threats by Native American tribes, namely the Shawnee under Chief Tecumseh. He was selected by the Ohio General Assembly to replace Thomas Worthington as United States Senator from Ohio in 1807 and served until his resignation in 1809. Tiffin intended to resume his medical profession and instead accepted election to the Ohio Legislature. He served from 1809 to 1811 and was also Speaker of the House. Appointed by President James Madison as Chief Commissioner of the United States General Land Office in 1812, he served in that capacity for 17 years until his death in 1829. He died at his residence in Chillicothe when he was 65 years old. Tiffin, Ohio in Seneca County is named for him.
First Governor of Ohio, U.S. Senator. A native of England, he was born in Carlisle and began to study medicine when he was 12 years old. In 1784, he emigrated to America with his parents and settled in Charles Town, Virginia (now in West Virginia). Tiffin attended medical school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and commenced to practice as a physician and surgeon in Charles Town after his graduation. Also an active member of the Methodist Church, he became a lay minister in 1792. In 1798, he moved to the Northwest Territory with his family and the family of his brother-in-law, Thomas Worthington, and settled in Chillicothe. With a letter of recommendation for public office signed by former President George Washington, Tiffin was appointed as Clerk of the Territorial Court of Common Pleas by Territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair. He then became a member of the Northwest Territory Legislature in 1799 and was selected by his fellow representatives as the first Speaker of the House from 1799 to 1801. Tiffin was the president of the Ohio State Constitutional Convention in 1802 and was elected as the first Governor of Ohio after the territory became a state in 1803. He served from 1803 to 1807. As Governor, his foremost priority was to secure a safe home in Ohio amidst threats by Native American tribes, namely the Shawnee under Chief Tecumseh. He was selected by the Ohio General Assembly to replace Thomas Worthington as United States Senator from Ohio in 1807 and served until his resignation in 1809. Tiffin intended to resume his medical profession and instead accepted election to the Ohio Legislature. He served from 1809 to 1811 and was also Speaker of the House. Appointed by President James Madison as Chief Commissioner of the United States General Land Office in 1812, he served in that capacity for 17 years until his death in 1829. He died at his residence in Chillicothe when he was 65 years old. Tiffin, Ohio in Seneca County is named for him.
Bio by: K Guy
Inscription
Dr. Edward Tiffin born in Carlisle, Eng. 6-19-1766. Removed to US 1784, then to North Western Terr. 1796, member Territorial Leg., President First. Const. Conv. of Ohio, First Gov 1803, Commissioner of the Gen Land Office 1812, Surveyor General of the West 1814 to 1829, died as he lived an earnest Christian in Chillicothe, Ohio Aug. 29, 1829
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