John Quillin Tilson (April 5, 1866 – August 14, 1958) was an American politician. In 1898, he served as a major in the United States Volunteer Infantry in the Spanish–American War. A Republican, he represented Connecticut in the United States House of Representatives for almost 22 years, and was House Majority leader for six years.
Early life
Tilson was born in Clearbranch, Unicoi County, Tennessee, on April 5, 1866, to William and Katherine (Sams) Tilson. His father had obtained a grant of 900 acres in the Clearbranch community. He spent his early life on the family farm.
He attended both public and private schools in nearby Flag Pond, and later at Mars Hill, North Carolina. He was admitted to the bar in 1897, and started to practice law in New Haven, Connecticut.
In 1898, when the Spanish–American War broke out, he enlisted and served as a major in the Sixth Regiment, United States Volunteer Infantry.
Career
In 1904, Tilson was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives, where he served until 1908, the last two years as speaker.
He was later elected to United States House of Representatives, serving from 1909 to 1913; he ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1912. Tilson ran for election again and was again reelected to the House of Representatives. He served from March 4, 1915, until his resignation on December 3, 1932.
Later life
After his retirement from public life, Tilson returned to the practice of law in Washington D.C., and then in New Haven, Connecticut. He also served as a special lecturer at Yale University on parliamentary law and procedure, and wrote Tilson's Manual.
American hedge fund manager and philanthropist Whitney Tilson is his great-grandson.
Death
Tilson died in New London, New Hampshire, on August 14, 1958. He is interred at the private burial grounds on the family farm in Clearbranch, Tennessee.