He published a major Latin dictionary in 1850 and served in the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1851 and was a Whig.
He practiced law for several years, then (1822–1828) was professor of ancient languages at the University of North Carolina, after which he taught at New Haven and Boston.
He published a Latin grammar with his Yale classmate Solomon Stoddard, long very popular.
The Liberator wrote a scathing review of his slavery book, describing it as a deceitful pro-slavery panegyric, commenting, "Now, what are those 'opinions' of Mr. T. which are 'essentially' erroneous, i.e. if those of this letter writer are 'essentially' right?
Mr. T. believes that the enslavement of our colored population is a sin against God; that, like every other sin, it ought to be repented of and abandoned instantly; that the command of God is binding upon every oppressor to-day, to undo the heavy burdens, break every yoke, and let the oppressed go free; that equal rights and privileges belong to men, independent of the color of their skin or the texture of their hair; and that light and truth ought to have free course all ever our land, and throughout the world.