Ohio Historical Society

TIFFIN, Edward, a Senator from Ohio; born in Carlisle, England, June 19, 1766; attended the common schools; studied medicine; immigrated to the United States in 1784 and settled in Charles Town, Va. (now West Virginia); attended lectures at the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia; practiced medicine in Charles Town; entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1792; moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1796 and engaged in preaching and the practice of medicine; member, Territorial house of representatives 1799-1801, serving as speaker; president of the convention that formed the constitution of Ohio in 1802; elected as the first Governor of the State in 1803 and reelected in 1805; elected as a Democratic Republican to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1807, to March 3, 1809, when he resigned; member, State house of representatives 1809-1810, 1810-1811, serving as speaker; resumed the practice of medicine in Chillicothe, Ohio; appointed by President James Madison as the first Commissioner of the General Land Office and served from 1812 to 1814; with the consent of the President and the Senate he exchanged offices with Josiah Meigs and became surveyor general of the Northwest Territory, which position he held until removed by President Andrew Jackson in 1829; died in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio, August 9, 1829; interment in Grand View Cemetery.