Charles J. McCurdy

Charles Johnson McCurdy (December 7, 1797 – June 8, 1891) was an American lawyer, diplomat, and the 40th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut from 1847 to 1849. Early life Charles J. McCurdy was born at Lyme, Connecticut. His father, Richard McCurdy (1769–1857), was a graduate of Yale and a lawyer by profession, but devoted himself to agricultural pursuits and the care of his estate. His mother was Ursula Wolcott Griswold (1775–1811), granddaughter on her father's side of Governor Matthew Griswold, whose wife Ursula was the daughter of governor Roger Wolcott, sister of Oliver Wolcott, aunt of Oliver Wolcott Jr, and mother of Roger Griswold, all of whom were governors of Connecticut. Thus, McCurcy was related to many governors of the state. Among his younger brothers was Robert Henry McCurdy (1800–1880), the co-founder of McCurdy and Aldrich. He was of Scotch Irish descent on his paternal side; as early as 1503, King James VI leased the vast majority of the Isle of Bute to the MacKurerdy family (later McCurdy). His paternal grandfather, John McCurdy, emigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1745 prior to the Declaration of Independence. His mother's family was of English descent and his maternal great-grandfather, Matthew Griswold, served as the 17th Governor of Connecticut from 1784 to 1786. McCurdy entered Yale College in 1813, and was graduated in 1817 with high honors.