Thomas Irwin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania | |
| In office April 14, 1831 – January 4, 1859 | |
| Appointed by | Andrew Jackson |
| Preceded by | William Wilkins |
| Succeeded by | Wilson McCandless |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's14th district | |
| In office March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831 | |
| Preceded by | Andrew Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Stewart |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Irwin (1785-02-22)February 22, 1785 Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | May 14, 1870(1870-05-14) (aged 85) |
| Resting place | Allegheny Cemetery Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania |
| Party | Jacksonian Democrat |
| Education | Franklin & Marshall College read law |
Thomas Irwin (February 22, 1785 – May 14, 1870) was aUnited States representative fromPennsylvania and aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Born on February 22, 1785, inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,[1] Irwin attended the common schools, Franklin College (nowFranklin & Marshall College) inLancaster, Pennsylvania andread law in 1808.[1] He was editor of thePhiladelphia Repository starting in 1804.[1] He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice inUniontown, Pennsylvania in 1808, and from 1811 to 1812.[1] He was anIndian agent inNatchitoches,Louisiana from 1808 to 1810, also practicing law at that location.[1] He was deputy attorney general forFayette County, Pennsylvania from 1812 to 1819.[1] He was a member of thePennsylvania House of Representatives from Fayette County from 1824 to 1828.[1]
Irwin was elected as aJacksonian Democrat fromPennsylvania's 14th congressional district to theUnited States House of Representatives of the21st United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1829, to March 3, 1831.[2] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1830.[2]
Irwin received arecess appointment from PresidentAndrew Jackson on April 14, 1831, to a seat on theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania vacated by JudgeWilliam Wilkins.[1] He was nominated to the same position by President Jackson on December 7, 1831.[1] He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on March 21, 1832, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on January 4, 1859, due to his resignation.[1]
On January 13, 1859, theUnited States House of Representatives authorized theUnited States House Committee on the Judiciary to investigate charges against Irwin. On January 28, 1859, the House discontinued proceedings on the report that Irwin had resigned. At least 3 different attempts were made by Pittsburgh Bar to secure Irwin's impeachment. Irwin had been charged with partiality toward certain lawyers, with holding needless terms of court and with demanding that theUnited States Marshal for the Western District of Pennsylvania kick-back a portion of his salary and fees to the Judge. Irwin was also detested by the anti-slavery bar of Western Pennsylvania for the maintenance of the constitutionality of theFugitive Slave Act of 1850. In the face of almost certain impeachment, Irwin resigned.[3]
Following his resignation from the federal bench, Irwin resumed private practice inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1859 to 1870.[1] He died on May 14, 1870, in Pittsburgh.[1] He was interred inAllegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh.[2]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 14th congressional district 1829–1831 | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania 1831–1859 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
