Richard Thomas (December 30, 1744 – January 19, 1832) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Federalist member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district from 1795 to 1801. He also served in the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 9th Senatorial District from 1791 to 1793.
Richard Thomas | |
|---|---|
_-_Colonel_Richard_Thomas.jpg) | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district | |
| In office March 4, 1795 to March 3, 1801 | |
| Preceded by | see below |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Hemphill |
| Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 9th district | |
| In office 1791–1793 | |
| Preceded by | district created |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 30, 1744 West Whiteland Township, Province of Pennsylvania, British America |
| Died | January 19, 1832 (aged 87) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Federalist |
Early life and education
editThomas was born in West Whiteland Township in the Province of Pennsylvania and was educated at home by private teachers. He served in the American Revolutionary War as colonel of the First Regiment, Chester County Volunteers of the Pennsylvania militia.[1] He was of Welsh and English descent.[2]
Career
editThomas became a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1771[3] and was later elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 9th Senatorial District serving from 1791 to 1793.[1]
In 1793, he was appointed a brigadier-general of militia by Governor Thomas Mifflin but declined to accept the role.[4]
He was elected as a Federalist to the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1795 to March 3, 1801.[5] He engaged in agricultural pursuits and constructed Ivy Cottage, Whitford Lodge, and Whitford Hall in West Whiteland Township.
Thomas died in Philadelphia in 1832 and is buried at the Friends Western Burial Ground in Philadelphia.
Personal life
editThomas married Thomazine Downing, grand-daughter of Thomas Downing, founder of Downingtown, Pennsylvania.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b "Richard Thomas". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
- ^ Welsh Founders of Pennsylvania.
- ^ "APS Member History".
- ^ Futhey, James Smith (1881). History of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts. p. 742. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
richard thomas pennsylvania.
- ^ Ashmeade, Henry Graham (1884). History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co. p. 272. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ Browning, Charles Henry (1912). Welsh Settlement of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: William J. Campbell. p. 211. ISBN 9780608363837. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- United States Congress. "Richard Thomas (id: T000183)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- The Political Graveyard