Ohio's first governor.
Notes for GOV EDWARD TIFFIN: Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States 1789-1978 Volume III (Montana-Pennsylvania Edited by Robert Sobel and John Raimo Meckler Books A Division of Microform Review, Inc. 520 Riverside Ave. Westport, CT 06880 Page Ohio / 1193 TIFFIN, Edward, 1803-1807 Born on June 19,1761, in Carlisle, England, one of four children of Henry and Mary (Parker) Tiffin, both Episcopalians; himself a Methodist. Married Mary Worthington in 1789, who died childless; remarried to Mary Porter on April 16, 1809; father of Mary Porter, Diathea Madison, Eleanor Worthington, Rebecca Turner and Edward Porter. Studied medicine in England, emigrated with his family to Virginia, where he attended Jefferson Medical College in Pennsylvania from 1784 to 1786; practiced in, Charles Town. Ordained in 1792 as a lay preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church and served in that capacity throughout his life. Migrated to Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1798. Appointed Prothonotary of the Territorial Court of Common Pleas in 1798. Served as Speaker of the Territorial Legislature in 1799 and 1801. As leader of the 'Chillicothe Junto," opposed Territorial Governor St. Clair, pushed for immediate statehood, and thwarted efforts of the Federalists. He served as President of Ohio's Constitutional Convention, and was nominated for Governor by the Democratic-Republican Convention in 1802 and again in 1805. He received 4,564 or 100% of the votes cast on January 11, 1803, and 4,783 or 100% of the votes cast on October 8, 1805. Tiffin's first concern as governor was to appoint his fellow Democratic-Republicans to state offices. In reaction to Governor St. Clair's autocratic rule, the first Ohio Constitution severely limited the authority of the governor, but Tiffin as head of his party and the "Junto" wielded a great deal of power. He was a strong advocate of free navigation of the Mississippi River, and an opponent of slavery. He is best remembered for preventing the Burr Conspiracy. Tiffin resigned as governor to become a United States Senator on March 4. 1807. When his wife died in July 1808 Tiffin resigned and returned to private life on his farm. In 1809 Tiffin was elected to the state's General Assembly and again became Speaker until 1811. He was appointed commissioner of the newly created land office in 1812, and when the British invaded Washington, D.C., he was able to save his land books from being destroyed. Late in 1814, he exchanged offices with Josiah Meigs, Surveyor General for the Northwest, in order to reside at his home. He continued in this position until a few weeks prior to his death. He died on August 9,1829, and was buried in Grandview Cemetery at Chillicothe.More About GOV EDWARD TIFFIN: Burial: Grandview Chillicotte Cemetery Occupation: 1st Governor of Ohio