Matthew Lyon

Matthew Lyon
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 1st district
In office March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1811
Preceded by	Thomas Davis
Succeeded by	Anthony New
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 1st district
In office March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1801
Preceded by	Israel Smith
Succeeded by	Israel Smith
Personal details
Born	(1749-07-14)July 14, 1749 near Dublin, Ireland
Died	August 1, 1822(1822-08-01) (aged 73) Spadra Bluff, Arkansas, U.S. (now Clarksville)
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse(s)	Mary Horsford Beulah Chittenden
Children	12, including Chittenden
Signature

Matthew Lyon (July 14, 1749 – August 1, 1822) was an Irish-born American printer, farmer, soldier and politician, who served as a United States representative from both Vermont and Kentucky.

Lyon represented Vermont in Congress from 1797 to 1801, and represented Kentucky from 1803 to 1811. His tenure in Congress was tumultuous. He brawled with one Congressman, and was jailed on charges of violating the Sedition Act, winning re-election to Congress from inside his jail cell.

Lyon's trial, conviction, and incarceration boosted his status among the fledgling Democratic-Republican Party as a free-speech martyr.^[1]