STURGES, Jonathan, member of congress, born in Fairfield, Connecticut, 23 August, 1740; died there, 4 October, 1819. He was graduated at Yale in 1759, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practised at Fairfield. He took an active part in the pre-Revolutionary movements, and was a representative from Connecticut in the 1st and 2d congresses, serving from 4 March, 1789, till 2 March, 1793. He was a judge of the state supreme court in 1793-1805, and was a presidential elector in 1797 and 1805. He received the degree of LL. D. from Yale in 1806.--His grandson, Jonathan, merchant, born in Southport, Connecticut, 24 March, 1802; died in New York city, 28 November, 1874, went to New York in 1821 and became a clerk in a mercantile house, in which he rose to be a junior partner in 1828, and senior partner in 1836. He remained connected with the firm till 1868, when he retired with a large fortune. He was one of the chief promoters of the Illinois Central railway and a director, during the civil war was among the most liberal and outspoken supporters of the government, and took an active part in establishing the Union league club, of which he was president in 1863. He was active in the measures to break up the Tweed ring and to promote municipal reform in the government of the city of New York. He was distinguished for philanthropy, and was liberal as a founder or supporter of many charities in that city. He was at one time vice-president of the New York chamber of commerce, an active member of the Century club, and a generous patron of art. Mr. Sturges was an intimate friend of the poet Bryant, and was among the most active in the movement that led to the presentation of the vase, known as the "Bryant vase," now in the Metropolitan museum of art.