Oliver Wolcott Sr.

Oliver Wolcott, Sr. was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and governor of Connecticut. Born in Windsor on November 20, 1726, he was the youngest son of Sarah Drake and Roger Wolcott. Oliver graduated from Yale in 1747. After graduating, he was granted a captain's commission to raise a militia company to fight in the French and Indian War. Captain Wolcott served on the northern frontier defending the Canadian border against the French until the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.

On January 21, 1755, he married Laura Collins. They had five children: Oliver (who died young), Oliver, Jr. (who became governor of Connecticut), Laura, Mariann, and Frederick.

In 1775, Oliver was elected a delegate to the Continental Congress and continued in this position, with the exception of the year 1779, until 1783. He signed the Declaration of Independence on October 1, 1776. During the American Revolution, he was a major general for the Connecticut Militia.

In 1787, he was elected Lieutenant Governor, a position he held until 1796, when he became Governor of Connecticut. He died in office December 1, 1797.