John Harper Trumbull (March 4, 1873 – May 21, 1961) was an American politician who served as the 70th Governor of Connecticut.
Early life
Trumbull was born in Ashford, Connecticut son of Hugh Homer Trumbull (1847–1922) and Mary Ann (Harper) Trumbull (1849–1923). Despite his name, he was not related to the previous governors of Connecticut of the same name, but was the son of Irish immigrants who moved to Ashford in the early 1870s to run a farm. The family later moved to Plainville, Connecticut. Trumbull did not attend college.
Career
As a partner with his brother, Henry and one other man, Frank T. Wheeler, in 1891, he formed the Trumbull Electric Company, which produced electrical supply parts including porcelain fixtures, switchboards and panels. He served as President of that company from 1911 to 1944. It later became part of General Electric. He also was board chairman of Colonial Air Transport, Incorporated; director and treasurer of Plainville Realty Company; president of Plainville Trust Company; and director of Connecticut Light & Power Company (Eversource Energy).
Trumbull joined the First Connecticut Infantry in 1891, attaining the rank of colonel in the State Guard. He was a Republican. Trumbull served in the Connecticut Senate and as president pro tempore from 1923 to 1924, succeeding William H. Hall.
Elected the 79th lieutenant governor in November 1924, Trumbull held that office from January 7 to January 8, 1925, as the governor, Hiram Bingham III, resigned after one day as a governor to become a U.S. Senator. Trumbull had learned to pilot his own airplanes and was dubbed "The Flying Governor" because he often flew into Robertson Field Airport in Plainville.
