Thomas Cushing III (March 24, 1725 – February 28, 1788) was an American lawyer and statesman from Boston, Massachusetts. He was a delegate for Massachusetts in the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1776, and the first Lt. Governor of the state from 1780 to 1788. Between the resignation of John Hancock and the inauguration of James Bowdoin, he served as Acting Governor of Massachusetts in 1785.
Thomas was born into a prosperous and leading mercant...
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Thomas Cushing III (March 24, 1725 – February 28, 1788) was an American lawyer and statesman from Boston, Massachusetts. He was a delegate for Massachusetts in the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1776, and the first Lt. Governor of the state from 1780 to 1788. Between the resignation of John Hancock and the inauguration of James Bowdoin, he served as Acting Governor of Massachusetts in 1785.
Thomas was born into a prosperous and leading mercantile family of Boston. (The Cushing family had originally emigrated from Norfolk, England, to Hingham, Massachusetts in 1638.) His father, also named Thomas Cushing, was a leading member of the Old South Church and selectman. Thomas, Sr. was a frequent moderator of town meetings, and accepted the gift of Faneuil Hall from Peter Faneuil in 1742, served in the General Court (colonial assembly) of Massachusetts from 1731 to 1747, and as its speaker after 1742. His mother, Mary (Bromfield) Cushing (1689-1746) was also from another prominent family....
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