march february american lawyer merchant statesman boston massachusetts active boston politics represented city provincial assembly dissolution serving lower house speaker years role speaker signature documents protesting british policies leading officials london consider dangerous radical engaged extended communications times lobbied behalf legislature interests london seeking ways reduce rising tensions american revolution represented massachusetts voted opposed independence despite remained politically active independence continuing serve state government war responsible military position family merchant business elected state lieutenant governor politically associated fellow merchant governor remained lieutenant governor death briefly serving acting governor resignation election early years thomas born boston capital massachusetts bay march second seven children family deep roots province descends emigrated norfolk england thomas father named thomas city wealthiest merchants leading member city frequent town meetings accepted behalf city boston gift large market building public meeting space served colonial assembly massachusetts speaker mother prominent boston family thomas got early education attended harvard graduated studied law admitted bar entered family merchant business october married children political career entered politics winning election boston continued office elected politically associated attendance political discussions boston particular eventually formed lifelong relationship charismatic seen dominant political personality contributed financially political spending preferred stand background let receive credit political opponents later years characterized little french indian war came end british government sought recover costs posting troops colonies imposing taxes colonies early opponent taxes opposition economic terms reflection merchant observer trade ties binding parts british_empire wrote extant high duties payment widely new_england merchants significantly harmed economies britain north_america west_indies significant quantities scarce hard currency duties wrote steady constant busy interest liberty opposition famed secrecy talent intelligence speaker house chosen speaker assembly assembly chose governor bernard rejected choice named compromise candidate tenure speaker frequent correspondent assembly agent london given job late addition official correspondence petitions men exchanged opinions political developments respective areas broadly agreement need dealing british government franklin acquired letters written royal including governor lieutenant governor seeking colonial blame matters away british government royal governor franklin letters specific instructions shown people saw included radical engineered eventual publication letters lieutenant governor highly suggestions colonial rights needed resulting scandal political tensions sides atlantic prompted petition assembly recalled brought franklin resignation colonial agent conversion pro independence view publicly role affair held post speaker assembly dissolved october governor succeeded assembly members met governor permission formed body constitute facto government massachusetts state constitution adopted despite opposition british policies strongly support revolution moderate views refused serve named despite lack revolutionary elected delegate second associated radical cause london political figures massachusetts speaker signature petitions result orders issued april arrest radical leaders included pursue orders arrest leaders detained revolution continued maintain weak attitude independence cost seat december heated election campaign defeated committed independence loss decisively handed pro independence forces majority massachusetts delegation propelled firmly camp continued oppose independence return massachusetts delays polling process state formally called declaration independence president rewarded loyalty securing appointment commissioner marine affairs role oversaw gun frigates appointed chief responsible supplying massachusetts troops post held years appointed chief responsible supplying french troops newport rhode_island behavior similar merchants involved military supply positions substantially family merchant business granting favorably priced supply contracts involved regional conventions attempted stem decline value continental dollar setting wage price controls attempts failed states refused implement convention recommendations involved unsuccessful attempt create new constitution state effort rejected state eligible voters variety reason continued calls towns demanding new constitution involved detailed drafting state constitution adopted charter member president elected election districts failed elect senators refused serve nineteen senators sworn senate session october nineteen senators sworn fourteen voted elected president resigned president november order lieutenant governor massachusetts lieutenant governor stood election lieutenant governor election vote candidate received majority votes cast choice given decide candidate refused post second choice choice went ballot served post time serving friend death early offered resignation legislature partly political maneuver claimed suffering particularly bad case time legislature insist remain office resulting actually resigning acting governor served months term election governor highly political divisive portrayed opponents principally supporters little creature bidding election electorate prevailed decision making won lieutenant governor office served terms dominated rebellion uprising caused harsh fiscal policies poor economic conditions rural parts state returned politics elections reelected lieutenant governor time office funded rebuilding boston devastated british occupation given credit effort known played significant role rebuilding effort death legacy died boston february serving lieutenant governor buried boston maine named honor
Thomas Cushing