Thomas Joseph Meskill | |
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Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit | |
In office April 23, 1975 – June 30, 1993 |
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Appointed by | Gerald Ford |
Preceded by | John Joseph Smith |
Succeeded by | Guido Calabresi |
82nd Governor of Connecticut | |
In office January 6, 1971 – January 8, 1975 |
|
Lieutenant |
T. Clark Hull Peter L. Cashman |
Preceded by | John N. Dempsey |
Succeeded by | Ella T. Grasso |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 6th district |
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In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1971 |
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Preceded by | Bernard Grabowski |
Succeeded by | Ella T. Grasso |
Personal details | |
Born |
New Britain, Connecticut |
January 30, 1928
Died | October 29, 2007 Delray Beach, Florida |
(aged 79)
Political party | Republican |
Alma mater |
Trinity College, Hartford University of Connecticut Law School |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Thomas Joseph Meskill (January 30, 1928 – October 29, 2007) was a longtime judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He previously served as the 82nd Governor of Connecticut, as a U.S. Congressman from Connecticut, and as the mayor of New Britain, Connecticut. He is noted as having served in all three branches of government and at the local, state and federal levels of government during his career of public service.
Thomas Joseph Meskill was born on January 30, 1928 in New Britain, Connecticut. His father was politically active. Meskill graduated from New Britain Senior High School in 1946. He then attended Bloomfield's Saint Thomas Seminary then, although his original intention had been to pursue pre-medical studies,. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Trinity College in Hartford in 1950.
After graduation, Meskill enlisted in the United States Air Force and served for three years during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1953 with the rank of first lieutenant.
Meskill studied at the New York University School of Law and the University of Connecticut Law School, where he was editor of the Law Review, earning an J.D. from the latter institution in 1956. He was admitted to the bar and began practicing in New Britain in 1956.