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Matthew Lyon (July 14, 1749 – August 1, 1822) was an Irish-born American printer, farmer, soldier and politician, who served as a United States representative from both Vermont and Kentucky.

Key Information

Lyon represented Vermont in Congress from 1797 to 1801, and represented Kentucky from 1803 to 1811. His tenure in Congress was tumultuous. He brawled with one Congressman, and was jailed on charges of violating the Sedition Act, winning re-election to Congress from inside his jail cell.

Lyon's trial, conviction, and incarceration boosted his status among the fledgling Democratic-Republican Party as a free-speech martyr.[1]

Early life and military career

[edit]

Lyon attended school in Dublin, after having been born in nearby County Wicklow, Ireland.[2] Some sources indicate that his father was executed for treason against the British government of Ireland, and Lyon worked as a boy to help support his widowed mother.[2] He began to learn the printer and bookbinder trades in 1763, but emigrated to Connecticut as a redemptioner in 1764.[3] To pay his debt, he worked for Jabez Bacon, a farmer and merchant in Woodbury.[3] The debt was later purchased by merchant and farmer Hugh Hannah of Litchfield; while working for Hannah (or Hanna), Lyon continued his education through self-study when he was able.[4][3] By working for wages when he was permitted, Lyon saved enough to purchase the remainder of his indenture, and he became a free man in 1768.[3]

While living in Connecticut, Lyon became acquainted with many individuals who became the first white settlers of Vermont.[3] In 1774, Lyon moved to Wallingford, Vermont (then known as the New Hampshire Grants), where he farmed and organized a company of militia.[3][5] He was an adjutant in Colonel Seth Warner's regiment in Canada in 1775, and in July 1776 was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Green Mountain Boys' regiment.[6] He moved to Arlington, Vermont, in 1777.[7]

During the Revolutionary War, Lyon initially served under Horatio Gates in upstate New York and Vermont.[8] In a version of the event later circulated by his political opponents, he was cashiered for cowardice and ordered to carry a wooden sword to represent his shame.[9][10] In Lyon's version, he and his men were assigned to guard wheat growing in the fields near Jericho, Vermont; unhappy at not being put to good use, he asked to leave Gates' command and join the regiment commanded by Seth Warner.[3][8] Lyon's conduct was vindicated by both Arthur St. Clair and James Wilkinson.[11][12]

Lyon subsequently joined Warner's regiment as a paymaster with the rank of captain, and served during the Battle of Bennington and other actions.[13] After leaving Warner's Regiment following the Battle of Saratoga, Lyon continued his revolutionary activity, serving as a member of Vermont's Council of Safety, a captain in the militia (later advancing to colonel), paymaster general of the Vermont Militia, deputy secretary to Governor Thomas Chittenden, and assistant to Vermont's treasurer.[14]

Political career in Vermont

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The Fair Haven home of Matthew Lyon

Lyon served as a member from Arlington in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1779 to 1783.[15] He founded Fair Haven, Vermont in 1783 and returned to the state House of Representatives from 1787 to 1796 as its member.[16][17][a] In October 1785, while serving as clerk of the Vermont Court of Confiscation, Lyon was impeached by the Vermont Council of Censors for his failure to provide the state with records of the Court of Confiscation.[17] Three days later, after an impeachment trial before both the council and the governor, Lyon was reprimanded and ordered by the court of impeachment to pay the expenses of the prosecution. It was additionally ordered by the court of impeachment that Lyon be fined 500 pounds if he failed to comply by delivering the documents. Lyon requested a new trial, and the Council obliged, again finding against him. There are no records that suggest that Lyon paid any of the fines he was ordered to, however.[17][19][20] Lyon was elected assistant judge of Rutland County in 1786 and was elected to again serve in the state house later the following year.[17]

Lyon also built and operated various kinds of mills in Fair Haven, including a gristmill, sawmill, and paper mill, in addition to an iron foundry.[21] In 1793, he started a printing office and published the Farmers' Library newspaper; though his son James was the nominal owner, Matthew Lyon oversaw the paper's management and supplied much of its content.[22][b] The newspaper was later renamed to the Fair Haven Gazette, and was published until Lyon sold its works.[24] In 1794, Lyon sold the printing press and other equipment for the Gazette to Reverend Samuel Williams and Judge Samuel Williams of Rutland, who used it to found the Rutland Herald.[25]

Congress

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Lyon was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Second and Third Congresses.[26] He unsuccessfully contested the election of Israel Smith to the Fourth Congress.[27] Lyon won election as a Democratic-Republican to the Fifth and Sixth Congresses (March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1801); he was not a candidate for renomination in 1800.[1]

Altercation with Roger Griswold

[edit]
Political cartoon of Lyon (holding tongs) brawling with Roger Griswold

Lyon had the distinction of being one of the first two members investigated for a supposed violation of House rules when he was accused of "gross indecency" for spitting in Roger Griswold's face; Griswold was investigated for attacking Lyon in retaliation.

On January 30, 1798, the House was considering whether to remove William Blount of Tennessee from office.[28] Griswold was trying to attract Lyon's attention in order to have a dialogue on the issue, but Lyon was ignoring him on purpose, since they belonged to opposing political parties (Lyon was a Democratic-Republican and Griswold a Federalist).[28] Griswold finally lost his temper and insulted Lyon by calling him a scoundrel, which at the time was considered profanity.[28] Their clash escalated when Lyon declared himself willing to fight for the interest of the common man.[29] Mockingly, Griswold asked if Lyon would be using his wooden sword, a reference to Lyon's supposed dismissal from Gates' command during the Revolution.[30] Furious, Lyon spat tobacco juice on Griswold, earning himself the nickname "The Spitting Lyon".[31][32]

Lyon later apologized to the House as a whole, claiming he had not known it was in session when he confronted Griswold, and meant no breach of decorum or disrespect to the body; he also provided a written letter of apology.[33] Not satisfied with the apology, on February 15, 1798, Griswold retaliated by attacking Lyon with a wooden cane, beating him about the head and shoulders in view of other representatives on the House floor.[28][31] Lyon retreated to a fire pit and defended himself with the tongs until other Congressmen broke up the fight, with several pulling Griswold by his legs to get him to let go of Lyon.[28][31] Although the committee appointed to investigate recommended censure of both Lyon and Griswold, the House as a whole rejected the motion.[34] The issue was resolved when both Lyon and Griswold promised the House that they would keep the peace and remain on good behavior.[35]

Imprisonment for sedition

[edit]
Criticism of John Adams (pictured) landed Lyon in prison.

Lyon also has the distinction of being the only person to be elected to Congress while in jail. On October 10, 1798, he was found guilty of violating the Alien and Sedition Acts,[36][37] which prohibited malicious writing about the American government as a whole, or of the houses of Congress, or of the president. During the Quasi War with France,[38] Lyon was the first person to be put to trial for violating the acts after he published editorials criticizing Federalist President John Adams.[39]

Lyon had launched his own newspaper, The Scourge of Aristocracy and Repository of Important Political Truth,[40] when the Rutland Herald refused to publish his writings. On October 1, Lyon printed an editorial which included charges that Adams had an "unbounded thirst for ridiculous pomp, foolish adulation, and selfish avarice," as well as the accusation that Adams had corrupted the Christian religion to further his war aims.[41][c] Before the Alien and Sedition Acts had been passed, Lyon had also written a letter to Alden Spooner, the publisher of the Vermont Journal. In this letter, which Lyon wrote in response to criticism in the Journal, Lyon called the president "bullying," and the Senate's responses "stupid."[41]

Once the Alien and Sedition Acts were passed, the Federalists pushed for this letter to be printed in the Vermont Journal, which Spooner did, thus adding additional charges against Lyon.[41] One other charge included publishing letters written by the poet Joel Barlow, which Lyon had read at political rallies.[43] These also were published prior to the Acts.[41][44] Lyon's defense was to be the unconstitutionality of the Acts, as Jeffersonians saw them as violating the First Amendment to the Constitution. In Lyon's particular case, there was the aforementioned letter to Alden Spooner as well as that of Barlow, which meant Lyon felt entitled to bring up the Constitution's safeguards against ex post facto laws.[45][46] This defense was not allowed.[46][47]

Judge William Paterson (pictured) lamented being unable to give a harsher punishment.

Lyon was sentenced to four months in a 16 by 12 feet (4.9 m × 3.7 m) jail cell used for felons, counterfeiters, thieves, and runaway slaves in Vergennes, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and court costs (equivalent to $18,903 in 2024); Judge William Paterson lamented being unable to give a harsher punishment.[47] A bit of a resistance movement was created; the Green Mountain Boys even threatened to destroy the jail and might have done so if not for Lyon's urging peaceful resistance.[48] While in jail, Lyon won election to the Sixth Congress by nearly doubling the votes of his closest adversary, 4,576 to 2,444.[48] Upon his release, Lyon exclaimed to a crowd of supporters: "I am on my way to Philadelphia!"[49]

After years of effort by his heirs, in 1840 Congress passed a bill authorizing a refund of the fine Lyon incurred under the Alien and Sedition Acts and other expenses he accrued as the result of his imprisonment, plus interest.[50]

Election of 1800

[edit]

In the election of 1800, the vote went to the House of Representatives because of a tie in electoral votes between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, who were supposed to have been the Democratic-Republican candidates for president and vice president respectively.[51] Many Federalists decided Burr as president was preferable to Jefferson.[52]

House members voted by state, with a majority required for a state's vote to be awarded, and a majority of nine states required to win.[53] During the first 35 ballots, Jefferson carried eight states and Burr six, with two states counted as "no result" because of a tie among their House members.[54] Vermont was one of the two "no result" states, because Lewis Morris voted for Burr and Lyon cast his ballot for Jefferson.[55] On the 36th ballot, several Federalists decided to break the impasse by allowing the election of Jefferson through either casting blank ballots or absenting themselves from the House chamber during the vote.[55] Morris was among the Federalists who took part; as a result of Morris's decision to be absent, Lyon's vote for Jefferson moved Vermont into his column.[55] Vermont was one of two states to switch from "no result" to Jefferson, and he carried 10 states on the final ballot; Lyon thus played an important role in Jefferson's victory.[56]

Later career

[edit]

Kentucky

[edit]

Lyon moved to Kentucky by 1801, settling in Eddyville on the Cumberland River in Livingston County, Kentucky (later Caldwell County and now Lyon County).[57][58] He established a paper mill propelled by oxen and a distillery, and subsequently engaged in boat building.[57] Lyon also owned ten slaves in 1810.[59][60]

The Department of War employed him to build gunboats for the War of 1812.[61] When the war ended, Lyon had on hand large quantities of wood and other supplies he had purchased at wartime prices for this endeavor; the government subsequently failed to honor its contract, and Lyon became bankrupt.[62] He worked diligently to repair his finances, and by 1818 he had satisfied his debts and was again living in comfortable circumstances.[63]

Return to Congress

[edit]

He became a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1802 and was elected to the 8th United States Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1811).[56][64] He sought reelection in 1810 to the 12th Congress, but was unsuccessful.[65]

Arkansas

[edit]

After repaying his debts and recovering financially, but failing to obtain payment for his war of 1812 contract, Lyon solicited a federal appointment that would provide a salary and stability in his final years.[66] In 1820, President James Monroe, a friend and political supporter of Lyon's, appointed him United States factor to the Cherokee Nation in the Arkansas Territory.[67] He again attempted to serve in Washington, D.C. by running for the Arkansas Territory's delegate seat in Congress against incumbent James Woodson Bates.[68] He narrowly lost the election to serve in the 17th Congress (1,081 to 1,020), and then unsuccessfully contested the result.[68] Lyon wrote to the House that the governor of the territory and other officials refused to allow him to inspect ballots and returns, or to have a hearing where he could call witnesses.[68] As a result, Lyon was unable to gather proof to support his claim to the seat.[68] He withdrew his contest, and Bates continued to serve.[68]

Death and burial

[edit]

Lyon died in Spadra Bluff, Crawford County, Arkansas (now within Clarksville, Johnson County, Arkansas) on August 1, 1822.[69] He was initially interred in Spadra Bluff Cemetery, and in 1833 he was reinterred in Eddyville Cemetery.[70]

Personal life

[edit]

Lyon was married twice. His first wife was Mary Horsford whom he married in 1772. She was the daughter of Samuel Horsford and Mary Grant and had been married previously to Daniel Allen, the uncle of Ethan Allen, until his death in 1772. She died in 1782.[71] Lyon's second marriage was to Beulah M. Chittenden, the daughter of Thomas Chittenden, in 1784.[72][73]

His son James (1776–1824) was a newspaper editor and publisher in Vermont and several southern states, and worked with both his father and James Thomson Callender.[74] Lyon's son Chittenden Lyon (1787–1842) was also a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1827–1835) from Kentucky.[57] His son Matthew (1792–1839) was the father of Confederate General Hylan B. Lyon of Lyon County, Kentucky.[75]

His daughters Anne and Pamelia married John Messinger and George Cadwell, respectively, pioneers and politicians of Illinois.[76]

Lyon was also the great-grandfather of William Peters Hepburn, who represented Iowa in Congress.[77] One of Lyon's descendants is the American operatic baritone Sherrill Milnes.[78]

According to research conducted by The Washington Post in 2022, Lyon was included in the list of more than 1,700 men who served in the U.S. Congress who owned slaves.[59]

Legacy

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In 2006, the post office in Fair Haven was named for Lyon.[79] In 2018, a concept album based on the life of Matthew Lyon, Spit'n Lyon was released. Music & Lyrics by John Daly, orchestration & recording by Greg Goldman, musical support from Neil Maurer.[80]

The World War II Liberty Ship SS Matthew Lyon was named in his honor.

See also

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Notes

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References

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Sources

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Matthew Lyon

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Matthew Lyon (July 14, 1749 – August 1, 1822) was an Irish-born American printer, publisher, military officer, and politician who served as a United States Representative from (1797–1801) and later from (1803–1810)./) A Democratic-Republican, Lyon immigrated to the American colonies in 1765, apprenticed as a printer, and fought in the Revolutionary War with Ethan Allen's before establishing a and iron in Fair Haven, . Lyon's congressional tenure was marked by fierce opposition to Federalist policies, including participation in a physical altercation on the House floor with Connecticut Representative Griswold in 1798, stemming from partisan insults. His most notable controversy arose from an editorial in his newspaper The Farmer's Library criticizing President as arrogant and monarchical, leading to his arrest and conviction under the Sedition Act of 1798—the first such prosecution—as a "malicious" attempt to defame the government. Sentenced to four months imprisonment and a $1,000 fine (later refunded with interest by Congress in 1840), Lyon challenged the Act's constitutionality under the First Amendment but was overruled by Chief Justice John Paterson, who instructed the jury on its validity. Despite incarceration, Lyon won reelection to from jail in 1798, underscoring public support for his defense of free speech amid efforts to suppress dissent. After losing his seat in 1800, he relocated to , where he resumed printing, operated a steam-powered , and secured further terms in the until 1810, though his later career involved financial setbacks including . Lyon's defiance exemplified early republican resistance to perceived overreach, influencing debates on .

Early Life

Birth and Irish Background

Matthew Lyon was born on July 14, 1749, in , , near . His father, a farmer, died during Lyon's childhood, leaving the family in reduced circumstances that prompted his early . Some accounts describe the father as a political protester killed amid agrarian unrest, though primary details on the circumstances remain sparse and unverified beyond family traditions. Lyon received basic schooling in , where he also commenced apprenticeship in the printing trade around 1763, reflecting the era's limited opportunities for Irish youth of modest means amid ongoing economic pressures from land tenure disputes and collections. This vocational training equipped him with skills later pivotal to his American career, against a backdrop of Ireland's 18th-century and Catholic disenfranchisement, though Lyon's own religious or sectarian affiliations in youth are undocumented. His Irish upbringing thus instilled a pragmatic outlook shaped by familial loss and the island's volatile social fabric, influencing his later advocacy for republican principles upon emigration.

Immigration and Early Settlement in America

Matthew Lyon was born on July 14, 1749, near in , , where he attended school and began learning the printing trade in 1763. At age 15 or 16, in 1765, he immigrated to the American colonies via ship, entering three years of to cover his passage costs, a common practice for poor Irish emigrants lacking funds. Upon arrival, Lyon settled in , where he served his , initially bound to a ship captain and later transferred to a local tradesman who taught him further skills. By , having fulfilled his obligation, he relocated to and New Haven, engaging in and related work to establish economic independence. In 1774, Lyon moved to the frontier territory of the —later —purchasing 100 acres of land in Fair Haven for settlement and . There, he constructed a home and began farming and entrepreneurial activities amid disputes between New York and claimants, aligning with Ethan Allen's to defend settlers' interests. This relocation positioned him in a region of rapid settlement, where Irish immigrants like Lyon contributed to land clearance and community formation despite legal uncertainties.

Military Service

Enlistment in the Revolutionary War

In 1774, shortly after settling in the (the region that became ), Matthew Lyon organized a company of local amid rising tensions between American colonists and British authorities. This early involvement reflected his commitment to the Patriot cause, as the Grants' settlers had long resisted external control from New York and anticipated broader conflict with the Crown. With the outbreak of hostilities in 1775, Lyon enlisted as adjutant in Colonel Seth Warner's regiment, an iteration of Ethan Allen's irregulars, and participated in the on May 10, 1775. The regiment then advanced into as part of the Continental Army's northern invasion, where Lyon's administrative role supported operations against British forces in the region. By July 1776, Lyon received a commission as second lieutenant in the Green Mountain Boys, formalizing his service within the Continental framework following the Declaration of Independence. This progression from militia organizer to commissioned officer underscored his rapid integration into the Revolutionary effort, though his tenure would later involve disputes over conduct in subsequent engagements.

Key Engagements and Discharge Controversy

In 1776, Lyon enlisted in the Continental Army as an in Colonel Seth Warner's , composed of Vermont's , and participated in operations along the northern frontier. His unit engaged British and Loyalist forces in the , contributing to the American victory at the Battles of Freeman's Farm and Bemis Heights on September 19 and October 7, 1777, respectively, which forced General John Burgoyne's surrender on October 17. Earlier, Warner's had fought at the on August 16, 1777, where Lyon's service helped secure a decisive defeat of British forces raiding American supplies, resulting in over 200 enemy casualties and the capture of artillery and wagons. Following Saratoga, Lyon departed Warner's Regiment amid ongoing northern theater operations under General . In late 1777 or early 1778, while commanding a company of rangers on a scouting mission near the Canadian border, Lyon reportedly discovered an undefended British fort and ordered an , but his troops refused, citing lack of formal orders, leading to a . court-martialed Lyon for cowardice, resulting in a dishonorable discharge and an order to carry a wooden as a mark of shame; Lyon formally resigned his commission in 1778. The discharge sparked enduring controversy, with Lyon maintaining that the mutiny stemmed from subordinates' insubordination rather than his own failure, while critics, including later Federalist opponents, portrayed it as evidence of personal cowardice to discredit his character. Despite the cashiering, Lyon continued informal service as a military scout until his resignation, and he later attained the rank of colonel in the Vermont militia, suggesting the incident did not wholly impair his regional military standing. The episode's details remain disputed due to conflicting accounts from participants and limited primary records, but it fueled political attacks against Lyon decades later, highlighting tensions between Revolutionary officers' narratives of valor and accountability.

Pre-Congressional Career in Vermont

Economic and Publishing Ventures

After the Revolutionary War, Matthew Lyon settled in , which he helped establish in 1783, and pursued multiple manufacturing enterprises that formed the basis of his economic success in the region. These included operating a , a , a , and additional printing presses, activities that enabled him to accumulate significant wealth prior to his entry into national politics. In parallel with his manufacturing interests, Lyon entered the publishing field by establishing a printing office in Fair Haven around 1793, leveraging his paper production facilities. He initiated the Farmers' Library newspaper that year, with his son James listed as the nominal publisher, though Lyon directed its operations and content, which promoted the formation of Democratic-Republican societies and aligned with Jeffersonian principles. The publication served as a platform for Lyon's political advocacy, reflecting his opposition to Federalist policies. By 1794, Lyon expanded his printing efforts with the Fair Haven Gazette, again nominally under James Lyon's name alongside printer Judah D. Spooner, focusing on support for the Republican Party and . These ventures not only disseminated Lyon's views but also integrated with his economic enterprises, as the supplied materials for the presses, creating a vertically integrated operation that bolstered his local influence and financial standing.

Local Political Involvement

Matthew Lyon founded the town of Fair Haven, , in 1783 and subsequently represented it in the . His service in the spanned from 1783 to 1796, during which he advocated for local interests amid 's transition to statehood in 1791. As an early adherent to anti-Federalist principles that evolved into Democratic-Republican affiliation, Lyon positioned himself against centralized authority, reflecting the agrarian and populist sentiments prevalent in rural districts. Lyon's legislative tenure included efforts to promote economic development in Fair Haven, leveraging his roles in local governance to support settlement and infrastructure. He was elected to represent the town as early as 1787, underscoring his influence in community affairs. Prior to sustained success at the federal level, Lyon's repeated candidacies for the U.S. House—losing in 1791, 1793 (where he received 33.8% of the vote in the Western District), and another prior attempt—demonstrated his growing political network and commitment to Republican opposition against Federalist dominance in Vermont. These local and state-level engagements built the foundation for his 1797 congressional victory.

Congressional Service from Vermont (1797–1801)

Election and Legislative Stance

In the 1796 congressional election for 's at-large seat in the U.S. , Matthew Lyon, running as a Democratic-Republican, secured victory after three prior unsuccessful bids for federal office, defeating Federalist Samuel Hitchcock amid strong support from western 's agrarian and voters who favored Republican positions on limited federal authority and . Lyon assumed his seat on March 4, 1797, at the start of the 5th , representing interests aligned with Thomas Jefferson's emerging party, which emphasized agrarian , opposition to aristocratic influences, and skepticism toward expansive central government powers. His campaign capitalized on local grievances, including 's delayed statehood and economic pressures from Federalist trade policies favoring British commerce over French alliances. Lyon's legislative record reflected Democratic-Republican priorities, including vocal criticism of Federalist foreign policy during the Quasi-War with France, where he advocated for neutrality and decried executive overreach in military preparations as threats to republican liberties. He opposed measures expanding federal naval power and fiscal policies under Treasury Secretary , arguing they burdened frontier states like with taxes to fund elite coastal interests, consistent with his pre-congressional advocacy in the Farmers' Library for Jeffersonian agrarianism over Hamiltonian centralization. In debates, Lyon defended against perceived monarchical tendencies in the Adams administration, foreshadowing his later support for the of 1798, which challenged federal supremacy in internal affairs. His blunt rhetoric, often drawing on personal experience as an Irish immigrant and veteran, positioned him as a defender of against what he termed elitism, though this stance alienated opponents and contributed to partisan gridlock in the House. Facing re-election in 1798 amid escalating partisan tensions, Lyon campaigned on his record of resisting Federalist encroachments, winning a second term for the 6th Congress (1799–1801) despite ongoing controversies, including his impending prosecution under the Sedition Act—a law he had publicly condemned as unconstitutional suppression of dissent. Throughout his Vermont tenure, Lyon's positions prioritized empirical concerns of rural constituents, such as equitable land distribution and relief from federal imposts, over abstract mercantile expansions, embodying a causal view that concentrated power inevitably corrupted republican institutions. He declined renomination in 1800, citing fatigue from conflicts, but his service solidified his role as a bridge between Vermont's radical statehood advocates and national Republican opposition.

Altercation with Roger Griswold

The altercation between U.S. Representatives Matthew Lyon of Vermont and Roger Griswold of Connecticut stemmed from partisan tensions during the Fifth Congress, exacerbated by personal insults exchanged over Lyon's Revolutionary War record. On January 30, 1798, during a House debate, Griswold impugned Lyon's military conduct, prompting Lyon to spit tobacco juice in Griswold's face as a deliberate act of contempt. The House considered expelling Lyon for this "gross indecency" but ultimately voted against it on February 6, 1798, with the motion failing along largely partisan lines—Federalists supporting expulsion and Democratic-Republicans opposing. Incensed by the House's inaction, Griswold attacked Lyon on February 15, 1798, while Lyon was retrieving mail near the House chamber. Armed with a wooden cane, Griswold struck Lyon repeatedly about the head and shoulders, drawing blood and intensifying the brawl as Lyon defended himself. Lyon seized a pair of fire tongs from the fireplace to retaliate but was restrained by fellow members before landing blows, preventing further escalation. The incident, witnessed by dozens of representatives, underscored the acrimonious Federalist-Republican divide amid debates over foreign policy and domestic authority. Subsequent House proceedings debated censuring or expelling both men but resulted in no formal punishment, as votes again split by party affiliation—Federalists condemned Lyon while defending Griswold, and vice versa. The brawl drew widespread public attention, inspiring cartoons like "Congressional Pugilists" that satirized congressional decorum, yet it did not derail Lyon's legislative activities or lead to lasting institutional changes in House rules against physical violence at the time. This event exemplified the era's influencing political conduct, where personal affronts demanded direct redress amid ideological warfare.

Sedition Act Prosecution and Trial

In the July 4, 1798, edition of the Vermont Journal, Lyon published a letter criticizing President for exhibiting "an ostentatious display of royalty" and a "continual grasp for power," among other accusations of arrogance and monarchical tendencies. This publication prompted federal authorities to charge Lyon under the recently enacted Sedition Act of 1798, which prohibited "false, scandalous, and malicious" writings against the government, Congress, or the president with intent to defame or stir sedition. A in the U.S. for the District of indicted him on three counts of violating the Act, making Lyon the first individual prosecuted under its provisions. Lyon's trial commenced on October 8, 1798, before Associate Justice William Paterson, a appointee, with Lyon representing himself pro se. He contested the Act's constitutionality, arguing it infringed the First Amendment's protections of speech and press, and raised an ex post facto claim regarding one charge tied to a pre-Act publication. The prosecution, led by U.S. David Fay, emphasized Lyon's intent to defame the administration through his printed attacks. The jury, after deliberating for approximately one hour, convicted Lyon on October 10, 1798. Paterson sentenced Lyon to four months' imprisonment in a Vermont state prison and a $1,000 fine, plus court costs, characterizing the penalty as relatively lenient under the Act's provisions despite the offense's gravity. Lyon immediately appealed to the Supreme Court but was denied bail, leading to his incarceration starting that day. The trial exemplified early tensions over federal suppression of political dissent, with critics viewing the Sedition Act as a tool to silence Republican opposition amid fears of French influence and domestic unrest.

Imprisonment, Fine, and 1800 Re-election

![Criticism of John Adams picturedpictured landed Lyon in prison.](./assets/ADAMS%252CJohn-President_BEPengravedportraitBEP_engraved_portrait
On October 10, 1798, a federal circuit court convicted Matthew Lyon of violating the Sedition Act of 1798 for his published criticisms of President . Judge William Paterson sentenced him to four months' imprisonment in the Vergennes county jail and a fine of $1,000 plus court costs of approximately $60.74. Lyon was confined to a common cell in the Vergennes jail, shared with other inmates including felons and debtors, under harsh conditions that initially restricted his access to writing materials. Despite these constraints, he persisted in denouncing the Sedition Act and policies from prison, which amplified public sympathy and positioned him as a defender of free speech against government overreach. His incarceration, rather than silencing him, transformed the episode into a rallying point for Jeffersonian Republicans opposed to the Adams administration's repressive measures. Lyon served his full term, gaining release around February 9, 1799, after which the unpaid fine burdened his finances for years until its remission by President in 1802. In the August 1800 election for Vermont's congressional seat, voters returned him to the with a over Federalist Lewis R. Morris, securing about two-thirds of the vote despite—or because of—his recent prosecution. This re-election, often described as occurring "from his jail cell" due to the ongoing controversy, underscored widespread rejection of the Sedition Act and bolstered the Republican triumph in the 1800 elections.

Move to Kentucky and Mid-Career (1801–1810)

Reasons for Relocation and Initial Activities

In 1801, following the expiration of his congressional term from and amid limited political prospects in a state increasingly dominated by influences after his high-profile Act prosecution and physical altercation with Representative Roger Griswold, Matthew Lyon relocated to seeking economic opportunities and expansive farmland unavailable in 's more settled regions. Lyon's restlessness, evident in his prior migrations from to America and within , further motivated the move, as did the potential for refuge from lingering partisan animosities tied to his Republican advocacy and imprisonment. He had already dispatched portions of his —including children and enslaved individuals—to the western frontier town of Eddyville in Livingston County (later renamed Lyon County in his honor) prior to completing the full transplant by mid-1801. Upon arrival in Eddyville, Lyon promptly established multiple enterprises to capitalize on the Ohio River's trade potential, founding an oxen-powered , a distillery for whiskey production, and operations in for regional . These ventures transformed Eddyville into a nascent commercial hub, leveraging Lyon's prior experience in , , and frontier development from . By , federal census records documented his ownership of ten enslaved individuals, integral to labor on these holdings amid Kentucky's agrarian economy. These initial activities laid the groundwork for his subsequent political resurgence, though they reflected pragmatic adaptation to a slaveholding society rather than ideological commitment.

Newspaper Editing and Political Agitation

Upon relocating to in 1801 and settling near Eddyville in what became Caldwell County (later renamed County in his honor), Matthew Lyon established business interests that included a operation, continuing his longstanding trade as a printer to facilitate on the . This endeavor, reportedly the first transported over the mountains to the region, enabled Lyon to produce materials supporting Democratic-Republican causes amid Kentucky's predominantly Republican political landscape. Lyon's political agitation focused on advancing Jeffersonian principles, including opposition to policies and advocacy for western expansion and land rights. He contributed writings to local newspapers and corresponded with national leaders, such as his August 12, 1801, letter to President addressing Kentucky land claims stemming from the 1768 Treaty of and Virginia's colonial assertions. These efforts, combined with public campaigning, built grassroots support for the in Livingston and surrounding counties, countering any residual elite influences. By 1802, Lyon's agitation proved effective, securing his election to the , where he advocated for regional infrastructure and militia organization along the state's southern borders. His printer's output likely included pamphlets and handbills promoting these positions, mirroring his Vermont tactics of using the press to mobilize voters against aristocratic tendencies./) This phase laid the groundwork for his federal return, emphasizing empirical appeals to settlers' economic interests over abstract federal authority.

Election to Congress from Kentucky (1803–1807)

After relocating to Kentucky in 1801 and establishing businesses in Eddyville, Lyon leveraged his reputation as a staunch Jeffersonian Republican—bolstered by his earlier Sedition Act imprisonment as a symbol of resistance to Federalist overreach—to enter state politics. In 1802, he secured election to the , reflecting his rapid integration into the state's dominant Democratic-Republican networks. That same year, Lyon campaigned for Kentucky's 1st congressional district seat in the U.S. House, contesting the election on August 2 against fellow Democratic-Republican David Walker. Lyon prevailed in a closely fought intra-party race, garnering 2,472 votes (51 percent) to Walker's 2,373 (49 percent), a margin of just 99 votes amid Kentucky's expanding electorate of frontier settlers favoring Republican agrarian interests. This outcome propelled him to the 8th Congress, where he was seated on March 4, 1803, marking him as only the second member to represent two states in the House./) Lyon sought and won re-election in 1804 for the 9th Congress, facing minimal opposition in the Republican-leaning district and securing another term without detailed vote tallies indicating significant challenge, as Kentucky's congressional contests remained largely intra-party affairs under Jefferson's national ascendancy. His 1803–1807 service thus stemmed from these back-to-back victories, sustained by his advocacy for , opposition to federal banking expansions, and alignment with western expansionist policies resonant in Kentucky's yeoman voter base.

Final Years in Arkansas Territory (1810–1822)

Settlement and Public Roles

In 1820, following financial difficulties in Kentucky, Lyon sought federal patronage and was appointed by President James Monroe as U.S. factor to the Cherokee Nation in the Arkansas Territory, a role involving management of a government trading post for Native American commerce. He relocated to Spadra Bluff, a site along the Arkansas River in what is now Johnson County (near modern Clarksville), arriving on February 5, 1821, to oversee operations at the post, which facilitated regulated trade with Cherokee communities displaced westward. This position marked Lyon's adaptation to frontier life, leveraging his prior experience in printing, agriculture, and politics amid the territory's sparse European-American settlements and ongoing indigenous interactions. Lyon's public roles in the territory centered on this federal appointment, which positioned him as a key administrative figure in early governance, though the factory system itself faced criticism for inefficiencies and was abolished nationally in 1822 shortly after his death. He also engaged in territorial by campaigning for election as delegate to the U.S. from , challenging incumbent James Woodson Bates in the August 1821 contest. was defeated by a narrow margin of fewer than 100 votes and accused Acting Governor Robert Crittenden of electoral manipulation, reflecting his persistent Republican Party activism and distrust of federalist-leaning officials, though no formal contest succeeded. These efforts underscored 's commitment to representative government expansion in the but yielded no further elected office before his death.

Postmaster Appointment and Territorial Contributions

In 1820, President appointed Lyon factor to the in the , a role involving management of the federal at Spadra to conduct commerce and diplomatic relations with Native American tribes under the Office of Indian Trade. Lyon relocated from and assumed duties at the post on February 5, 1821. As factor, Lyon oversaw operations at Spadra Bluff (near modern Clarksville in Johnson County), distributing goods, negotiating exchanges, and reporting on territorial conditions, including affairs amid ongoing land cessions and federal relocation pressures. His tenure supported U.S. efforts to regulate and gather on frontier dynamics until his . In parallel, Lyon engaged with postal infrastructure, corresponding with Return J. Meigs Jr. on April 21, 1821, amid discussions of mail contracts essential for territorial connectivity and governance. Lyon contributed politically by campaigning for election as territorial delegate to in the August 1821 contest, garnering strong support as a seasoned Republican figure but losing narrowly to James W. Bates by fewer than 100 votes. He contested the result before the , alleging and improper influence by Acting Governor Robert Crittenden, including claims of at least 109 illegal votes for Bates; a committee investigation upheld Bates's win on evidence grounds. These efforts highlighted Lyon's advocacy for representative governance in the sparsely settled territory, though unsuccessful.

Personal Life

Marriages and Family

Lyon married Mary Hosford on 23 June 1772 in Woodbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut. The couple had five children prior to Hosford's death in 1782; she was the daughter of Samuel Horsford and reportedly a relative of Ethan Allen. In 1784, Lyon wed Beulah Chittenden, daughter of Thomas Chittenden, Vermont's first governor; Beulah had been widowed from a prior marriage to a Galusha and lived until 1824. This union produced several children, including Minerva (1785–1850), Chittenden (1787–1842), and Aurelia (1790–1821). The marriage strengthened Lyon's ties to Vermont's political elite, contributing to his influence in state affairs. Some of Lyon's children from both marriages accompanied him during his relocations to Kentucky and Arkansas Territory, where they participated in frontier settlement.

Slave Ownership and Household Management

Upon settling in Kentucky in 1801, Lyon transitioned to slave ownership, employing enslaved labor to support his agricultural, printing, and ironworking enterprises in , where such practices were prevalent among landowners to sustain frontier development. The 1810 federal recorded ten enslaved individuals in his , comprising a mix of ages and sexes typical for domestic and field work in the region, adjacent to his son Matthew Lyon's separate enumeration of slaves. Lyon's household management integrated these enslaved people into operations at his Eddyville property, which included farming and early industrial activities, amid a family structure encompassing his second wife Beulah Chittenden and numerous children from prior unions. This arrangement aligned with 's slave economy, where even modest proprietors like Lyon—who held public roles as state legislator and U.S. congressman—relied on such labor for self-sufficiency, though no primary accounts detail specific oversight or conditions under his direction. Following his 1820 relocation to , Lyon maintained a comparable setup in a slave-permissive , but federal records prior to his 1822 death do not specify slave counts there, with his holdings apparently devolving to family members.

Death and Burial

Matthew Lyon died on August 1, 1822, in Spadra Bluff, (now near Clarksville in Johnson County), at approximately age 72. He had recently lost a contested for territorial delegate to the U.S. House to James W. Bates, a defeat he challenged before the House Committee on Elections, which upheld Bates's victory. The is not recorded in primary historical accounts, though Lyon had been engaged in public duties including negotiations with representatives in the territory. Lyon was initially interred in Spadra Bluff Cemetery. In 1833, his remains were exhumed and reinterred in Eddyville Cemetery (also known as River View Cemetery) in , reflecting ties to his earlier residence and family connections in the state. A Kentucky historical marker at the site commemorates him as a former state representative and congressman who died in Arkansas but whose grave was relocated to Eddyville.

Historical Assessment

Achievements in Republican Politics and Expansion

Matthew Lyon advanced Democratic-Republican principles through his establishment of The Farmer's Library in Fair Haven, , in 1793, which served as a key organ for promoting anti-Federalist views and supporting Thomas Jefferson's faction against the Hamiltonian policies of the Federalists. As a printer and editor, Lyon used the publication to criticize centralized authority and advocate for agrarian interests, contributing to the mobilization of Republican voters in rural . Lyon's election to the U.S. House from 's first district in 1796 marked an early triumph for Republican challengers in a stronghold; he served in the 5th and 6th Congresses (March 4, 1797–March 3, 1801), where he consistently opposed measures like the , embodying partisan resistance to executive overreach. Reelected in 1798 despite his imprisonment under the Sedition Act, Lyon's campaign underscored Republican commitment to press freedom and electoral resilience. In February 1801, during the tied presidential election between Jefferson and , Lyon cast the decisive House vote from that secured Jefferson's victory, pivotal in shifting federal power to the Republicans and enabling policies favoring and reduced national debt. Relocating to Kentucky in 1801 amid financial setbacks in Vermont, Lyon aligned with the state's burgeoning Republican base, founding businesses and leveraging his reputation to win election to the U.S. House from Kentucky's second district in 1802; he served in the 8th through 11th Congresses (March 4, 1803–March 3, 1811), advocating for frontier economic development and opposing Federalist remnants. His representation of western districts amplified Republican influence in Congress, pushing for land policies and infrastructure that supported migration, though his vocal opposition to the War of 1812 in 1812 contributed to his defeat in reelection bids, reflecting internal party tensions over military expansion. Lyon's migrations exemplified and facilitated American westward expansion, as his settlement in promoted commercial ventures like mills and printing that drew settlers to the Ohio Valley. By 1820, he had moved further to the , where President appointed him U.S. factor to the , a role involving trade regulation at the federal factory in Spadra Bluff that stabilized relations with indigenous groups and encouraged orderly white settlement amid territorial organization. In this capacity, Lyon advocated for mail routes, land bounties, and governance reforms in correspondence with federal officials, aiding the integration of into the union; he contested the 1821 territorial delegate election against James W. Bates but died before resolution, underscoring his enduring push for Republican-led development.

Controversies Surrounding Military Record and Conduct

In 1776, Matthew Lyon, serving as a in the Continental Army at Fort in , faced a among his troops who abandoned the outpost amid rumors of approaching Native American forces and grievances over isolation and exploitation by local speculators. The soldiers' forced officers, including Lyon, to follow, leading to the fort's abandonment; subsequent proceedings resulted in the dismissal of officers and for enlisted men, though the latter were later freed following British attacks elsewhere. Lyon was court-martialed by General and dishonorably discharged later that year, with accounts varying on the precise charges—some citing during a northern border engagement, others linking it to failures in leadership amid the . maintained the discharge was unjust, claiming he had been assigned to guard provisions and sought permission to join combat units like Seth Warner's regiment, while critics alleged outright warranting symbolic degradation, such as carrying a wooden —a punishment occasionally imposed on disgraced officers but unverified in 's specific case. Despite the discharge, continued military involvement, rising to in the Vermont militia and participating in earlier actions like the 1775 with Ethan Allen's . The episode fueled enduring political controversies, as opponents revived allegations of Lyon's cowardice to undermine his character; in 1798, Representative Roger Griswold explicitly referenced the "wooden sword" during a House debate, prompting Lyon's retaliatory spit and the ensuing physical altercation. Such taunts, echoed in earlier congressional exchanges, highlighted partisan efforts to discredit Lyon's military honor amid broader attacks on his Republican affiliations, though Lyon consistently defended his service as honorable overall.

Evaluations of Sedition Case and Free Speech Implications

Matthew Lyon's prosecution under the Sedition Act of 1798, enacted on July 14 of that year, marked the first federal enforcement of the law prohibiting "false, scandalous, and malicious" writings against the government. Lyon's offending publication was a July 4, 1798, letter in Spooner's Journal, which lambasted President as influenced by "diabolical hell-born influence" and likened policies to monarchical tyranny, prompting his on August 14, 1798. At on October 8-10, 1798, before U.S. Circuit Judge William Paterson, Lyon defended himself by contesting the Act's constitutionality as a violation of the First Amendment's speech protections, though Paterson instructed the jury that the law was valid under congressional authority. Convicted on October 10, he received a $1,000 fine and four-month imprisonment, serving from that date until , 1799, despite reelection to during his incarceration. Federalist contemporaries justified the prosecution as a necessary restraint on inflammatory rhetoric amid the Quasi-War with France, arguing the Act targeted only provably false libels harmful to governance, with truth allowable as a defense—a standard rooted in English common law. However, Republican critics, including Lyon, decried it as partisan censorship, noting its selective application solely against opponents of the Adams administration and absence of prosecutions for Federalist excesses. The case fueled immediate backlash, exemplified by the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions of 1798-1799, which asserted states' rights to nullify unconstitutional federal laws like the Sedition Act, framing Lyon's trial as evidence of centralized overreach. Historians assess Lyon's conviction as a stark illustration of the Sedition Act's on , where even vehement, non-inciting criticism of executive character was criminalized, undermining the First Amendment's intent to safeguard robust public debate. Unlike under prior regimes, which presumed malice without truth defenses, the Act's provisions were still wielded to shield incumbents, contributing to electoral defeat in 1800 and President Thomas Jefferson's refusal to enforce it upon taking office in 1801. Lyon's defiance—campaigning and winning reelection from prison—symbolized resistance, amplifying arguments that free speech must tolerate harsh opposition to prevent governmental self-perpetuation. Long-term implications underscore the case's role in establishing precedents against prior restraints and content-based speech restrictions, influencing doctrines like those in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964), which elevated thresholds for public official libel. While some legal scholars note the Act's wartime context justified limited curbs on , the consensus views Lyon's prosecution as emblematic of how laws, absent imminent harm, erode democratic accountability by deterring electoral critique. The Act's expiration in 1801 and non-renewal affirmed its perceived illegitimacy, reinforcing First Amendment interpretations prioritizing political expression over official insulation.

Modern Reassessments Including

In recent historical research facilitated by digitized , Matthew Lyon has been identified as owning ten slaves in , as documented in the 1810 U.S. following his relocation from in 1809. This ownership occurred in a border slave state where small-scale agricultural operations commonly relied on enslaved labor, with Lyon operating a alongside his and political activities. His son, Chittenden Lyon, perpetuated the practice, holding slaves into the mid-19th century, though Matthew himself relocated to in 1820 without clear of . This revelation has prompted reassessments of Lyon's legacy, particularly in , where he is traditionally honored for his defiance of the Sedition Act of 1798 and advocacy for republican principles during his congressional tenure from 1797 to 1801. Historians note that slaveholding undermines the narrative of Lyon as an unequivocal defender of individual , given slavery's inherent denial of personal autonomy and rights—core tenets he invoked in political rhetoric against policies. The contrast is stark: 's 1777 constitution prohibited slavery, yet Lyon's later embrace of it in aligns with the pragmatic inconsistencies of many Jeffersonian Republicans, who prioritized agrarian expansion over . While some family accounts, such as those from his daughter, portrayed Lyon as personally opposed to —potentially viewing his holdings as economic necessities rather than ideological endorsements—empirical evidence prioritizes the census data over anecdotal claims. Modern evaluations thus frame his record as emblematic of early American republicanism's blind spots: fervent opposition to monarchical overreach coexisting with tolerance for domestic bondage. No formal institutional reckonings, such as plaque revisions or dedications alterations, have been widely reported as of 2022, but the disclosure encourages contextualizing his contributions against the of , which fueled sectional tensions culminating in the Civil War.

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