Thomas Walker Gilmer

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Thomas Gilmer
Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office
1839–1840
Preceded byLinn Banks
Succeeded byValentine W. Southall
Personal details
Born
Thomas Walker Gilmer

(1802-04-06)April 6, 1802
Albemarle County, Virginia, U.S.
DiedFebruary 28, 1844(1844-02-28) (aged 41)
Potomac River, Maryland, U.S.
Resting placeMount Air Cemetery
Gilbert, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyWhig (Before 1842)
Democratic (1842–1844)
SpouseAnne Baker
Children9

Thomas Walker Gilmer (April 6, 1802 – February 28, 1844) was an American statesman. He served in several political positions in Virginia, including election as the 28th Governor of Virginia. Gilmer's final political office was as the 15th Secretary of the Navy, but he died in an accident ten days after assuming that position.

Personal life

Gilmer was born to George Gilmer and Elizabeth Anderson Hudson at their farm, "Gilmerton", in Albemarle County, Virginia. He was taught by private tutors and his uncle Peachy Ridgeway Gilmer in Charlottesville and Staunton, and studied law in Liberty (now Bedford), Virginia.[1][2][3][4]

Gilmer

editor of the Virginia Advocate, a Charlottesville newspaper.[1][2]

On 13 May 1826, Gilmer married Anne Elizabeth Baker of

Presbyterian minister
.

In 1829, Gilmer purchased Israel Jefferson, a former slave of Thomas Jefferson, who is best known for claiming that Sally Hemings was Thomas Jefferson's concubine. Gilmer later agreed to let Israel pay his own purchase price for his freedom after Gilmer's election to congress, as Israel desired to stay with his wife, a free woman.[5]

Political career

Sketch of Thomas W. Gilmer

Gilmer first served in the

Speaker.[1][2]

On February 14, 1840, Gilmer was elected the

Congress the following winter.[1][2]

In March 1841, he entered the

28th Congress as a Democrat in 1842 by a close vote. His competitor, William L. Goggin, contested the result, but before the report of the investigating committee, which recommended that Gilmer be seated, could be acted on, Gilmer resigned from Congress to accept Tyler's nomination as Secretary of the Navy. Goggin then won the special election to fill the vacant seat.[6]

As one of President John Tyler's close

the bursting of a bow gun on board USS Princeton while on a tour of the Potomac River below Washington. His death meant the loss of a valuable ally for Tyler, and some historians suggest that it may have delayed the Texas Annexation effort.[7]

Electoral history

In 1842, Gilmer was elected to the

U.S. House of Representatives with 50.21% of the vote, defeating William Leftwich Goggin
.

Legacy

Gilmer is buried at Mount Air Cemetery in Gilbert, Virginia.

A year after his death, Gilmer County, Virginia was named in his honor;[2] it is now part of West Virginia.

The city of

Abel Parker Upshur, (1790–1844), another victim of the USS Princeton
explosion which had taken Gilmer's life.)

Two ships of the United States Navy over the years have been named USS Gilmer in his honor.

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Jamerson, p. 61
  2. ^ a b c d e Lewis, p. 686
  3. ^ Markham, Thomas A. "A Bit of Town History: A Bit of History of "Old" Liberty/Bedford, Virginia". Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  4. ^ Shaffer, Wade (2000). "Gilmer, Thomas Walkerunlocked (06 April 1802–28 February 1844)". American National Biography. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  5. ^ "The Memoirs of Israel Jefferson". PBS. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  6. ^ "GOGGIN, William Leftwich, (1807 - 1870)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  7. ISBN 978-0-8078-3041-3
    .

References
Political offices
Preceded by
Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates

1839–1840 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
David Campbell
 Governor of Virginia
March 31, 1840 – March 20, 1841 		Succeeded by
John M. Patton
Acting Governor
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 12th congressional district
March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 5th congressional district
March 4, 1843 – February 16, 1844 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by United States Secretary of the Navy
February 19, 1844 – February 24, 1844 		Succeeded by
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