Civil War Memory alerts us to a contest to nominate the greatest Virginian of each of the last 4 centuries. Virginia, to be sure, has a proud heritage of impact and influence beyond the borders of the Commonwealth, though it is by no means alone in this regard. Numerous states with storied pasts (New York, Massachusetts) and powerful presents (Florida, Texas, California) can and often do claim native daughters and sons of singular distinction and national importance. So why not Connecticut?
Scoff not, parochial proponents of geographic heavyweights; there are more than 5 famous Belgians, after all, and pound for pound the Nutmeg State has produced and nourished many who can rightfully claim a space among the very great.
Therefore, whether or not you have a Husky in this fight, I invite you to nominate the 5 Greatest Nutmeggers of all time. I'm looking for influence, impact and legacy here. Here's my list.
1) Samuel Colt
2) Harriet Beecher Stowe (though we could claim John Brown as well)
3) P T Barnum
My top candidates all happen to be 19th century figures but don't let that limit you. Just to show I ain't prejudiced, I considered George W. Bush (born in New Haven in 1947) but decided that his legacy is far too uncertain to merit the label "great". Others might disagree.
So who have you got?
My distant cousin Noah Webster, the lexicographer, should be on the list. Noah was born in Hartford in 1758 and who died May 28, 1843 in New Haven.
Janice Brown
Posted by: Janice Brown | September 01, 2007 at 02:28 PM
Oh, Christ, she's one of ours? I'm now convinced we need the "most notorious Nutmeg" category, 'cause otherwise I don't see Ms. Coulter's impact, influence and legacy in quite the same league as Colt.
Posted by: GreenmanTim | August 31, 2007 at 07:32 PM
Ann Coulter!
(Take that you Nutmeg Liberals!)
Posted by: Tour Marm | August 31, 2007 at 07:27 PM
Sherman is absolutely fair game, as is Arnold (and Ethan Allen, though Vermonters will howl). If I had set this up as "most notorious Nutmegs", I'm certain the list would feature Arnold, as well as some living candidates...
Posted by: GreenmanTim | August 30, 2007 at 01:33 PM
ah what the heck here goes..my Top Five
Mary Dixon Kies (first woman to get a patent in the US)
Liz Phair (because she's cool)
Ralph Nader (because he USED to be cool)
Benedict Arnold (or do you mean POSITIVE legacy?)
Roger Sherman (or is he not native? I know he had a residence in CT.. but the Freemason thing creeps me out)
~or maybe~
George Bush Jr (see Benedict Arnold comment.. I'm not sure if he's one of those Freemasons or not)
anyways, thats my top five... although I'm inclined to throw out Nader and put in Barnum. They're kind of birds of a feather, no? ;)
Posted by: fuzzyturtle | August 30, 2007 at 11:00 AM
In the spirit of Bryn Mawr, I have to say Katharine Hepburn.
Posted by: frumiousb | August 29, 2007 at 01:37 AM