Thomas Talbot | |
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| 31st Governor of Massachusetts | |
| In office January 2, 1879 – January 8, 1880 | |
| Lieutenant | John Davis Long |
| Preceded by | Alexander H. Rice |
| Succeeded by | John Davis Long |
| 29th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts | |
| In office 1873 – January 7, 1875 Acting Governor April 29, 1874 – January 7, 1875 | |
| Governor | William B. Washburn |
| Preceded by | Joseph Tucker |
| Succeeded by | Horatio G. Knight |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 7, 1818 Cambridge, New York, United States |
| Died | October 6, 1885 (aged 67) Lowell, Massachusetts, United States |
| Political party | Republican |
| Signature | &sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:ThomasTalbotSignature.png){kind=small} |
Thomas Talbot (September 7, 1818 – October 6, 1885) was an American textile mill owner and politician from Massachusetts, United States. Talbot ran a major textile business, involving chemical dyeworks and the weaving of fabric, in Billerica that was a major local employer. As a Republican, he served in the state legislature, on the Massachusetts Governor's Council, and as the 29th lieutenant governor before serving for one partial term as acting governor of Massachusetts, and later for one full term as the 31st governor.
Born to Irish immigrants, Talbot was minimally educated, working in textile mills from an early age. He entered into a partnership with his brother, founding the Talbot Mills of Billerica in 1857. He became politically active, partly due to issues with the mills, and served two terms as Lieutenant Governor, acting as Governor for part of the second term after Governor William B. Washburn won election to the United States Senate. Talbot was a strong temperance advocate, and his veto of a popular alcohol licensing bill contributed to his loss in the 1874 gubernatorial race. He was more successful in 1878 against divided opposition, serving a single lackluster term.