Matthew Lyon
1820
Researched by : Tina Easley
Typed by : Becky Roberts
1820
Matthew Lyon Obit
MATTHEW LYON
The Arkansas Gazette announced the death, after a short illness,
at Spadre Bluff, Arkansas Territory, of Col. Matthew Lyon, United
States factor for the Cherokee nation of Indians, aged about 76
years.
Col. Lyon has been so much in public life, and at one time was so
conspicuous as a partisan politician, that a brief account of the
principal incidents of his life, drawn from an obituary notice of
him in the Arkansas paper, may be interesting. He was a native of
Ireland, but emigrated early in life to this country, and was one
of the first settlers in Vermont. In the War of the Revolution,
he was active in his exertions to serve its liberties and
independence. He had filled several important offices in Vermont,
previous to his election as a member of the Convention, which
formed the constitution of that state. He was several times
elected to the state legislature, and about the year 1796, was
elected a representative to the congress of the United States. It
was here that, he rendered himself obnoxious to the then ruling
party, during the presidency of Mr. Adams, by the firm and
resolute manner in which he opposed the odious sedition law, and
after his efforts to prevent its passage proved unsuccessful, by
exerting his utmost influence to render it unpopular. This was
done by the free expression of his sentiments at all times, and
by causing the publication of a letter addressed to him by an
American citizen in France, which contained severe animadversions
on the conduct of the Federal administration. ---For the free use
of speech and of the press, he was arrested for a violation of
that odious law, though at the time a representative of the
people, in the national councils, tried and sentenced to an
imprisonment of three months, and the payment of a fine of one
thousand dollars. When on the eve of departure to take his seat
in congress, the sentence was carried into effect and Col. Lyon
was thrown into prison, in am inclement season of the year, and
treated with no great delicacy, while he remained
incarcerated. These violent and arbitrary measures produced
throughout the union a general and loud burst of indignation and
had great effect in bringing about the change in the
administration, which soon followed. The constituents of Col.
Lyon, approved his conduct, remained his fast friends, and
re-elected him to Congress, while he was in prison.
Having been unsuccessful in the manufacturing business, in which
he was engaged in Vermont, he removed about the year 1802, with
his family, to Eddyville, Kentucky, and was there for some time
engaged in business. In 1808 he was elected a member of Congress
from that state, and was re-elected during the twelve succeeding
years. He was also several times chosen a member of the
legislature of Kentucky. He was a member of Congress during
fourteen sessions.
In Kentucky he was again unfortunate in his business, and found
himself at an advantage age reduced in his circumstances. He then
applied, through his friends, to the executive for an
appointment, and obtained the situation, which he filled at the
time of his death. At the last election for a delegate to
congress from the territory of Arkansas, Col. Lyon offered
himself as a candidate and received nearly as many votes as his
successful rival.