Arts, Dining & Entertainment

Historical society presents “Mad Matt the Democrat”

Courtesy of Pawlett Historical Society

Vince Feeney will present the Pawlett Historical Society’s August program, “Mad Matt the Democrat.”

Thursday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. — PAWLET — The Pawlett Historical Society’s August program, “Mad Matt the Democrat” will be presented by Vince Feeney on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Pawlet Town Hall, 122 School Street, Pawlet. Admission is free; refreshments will be served.

Feeney will discuss Mathew Lyon, who was an indentured servant, a Green Mountain Boy, and the son-in-law to Thomas Chittenden, the first governor of Vermont. Lyon was also a land-speculator and entrepreneur, as well as the founder of Fair Haven, Vt. He is perhaps best remembered for his imprisonment under the Alien and Sedition Acts, and his subsequent re-election to Congress while in jail. His life not only exemplified the promise of possibility in the then-new United States, but also reflected the political tensions of the time.

Feeney has a PhD in history, and was an adjunct professor of history at UVM from 1978 to 2003. He authored a book on Irish immigration into Vermont, a book on the  history of Winooski, Vt., and has one due out soon.

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