Philemon Thomas
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromLouisiana's2nd district
In office March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1835
Preceded by	Henry Hosford Gurley
Succeeded by	Eleazer Wheelock Ripley
Personal details
Born	(1763-02-09)February 9, 1763 Orange County, Virginia
Died	November 18, 1847(1847-11-18) (aged 84) Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Slave owner

Philemon Thomas (February 9, 1763 – November 18, 1847) was a member of theUnited States House of Representatives representing thestate of Louisiana. He served two terms as aDemocrat (1831–1835).

Philemon was born in Orange County,Virginia. He served in the American forces during Revolutionary War and later moved toKentucky. He was a member of Kentucky's Constitutional Convention and served in the state House and state Senate. He also ran for Congress four times while in Kentucky: in the2nd ("Northern") congressional district in 1799^[1] and 1801,^[2] and in the6th congressional district in 1803^[3] and 1804.^[4] In 1806 he moved to Louisiana. He commanded troops who on 1810 September 23 captured the Spanish fort in at Baton Rouge, commencing theWest Florida Rebellion of 1810. A few days later the West Florida Assembly, meeting atSaint Francisville, commissioned General Philemon Thomas to march the West Florida Army across the newly proclaimed Republic.

According toSoutheastern Louisiana University history professor Sam Hyde,

Residents of the western Florida Parishes proved largely supportive of the revolt, . . . while the majority of the population in the eastern region of the Florida Parishes opposed the insurrection. Thomas’ army violently suppressed opponents of the revolt, leaving a bitter legacy in theTangipahoa andTchefuncte River regions.^[5]

Philemon Thomas served in theWar of 1812 and later served two terms in Congress. In 1820, he was amember of the Electoral College, voting forJames Monroe. He ran forGovernor twice, in1824 and in1828. He died inBaton Rouge,Louisiana, and is interred there in the Baton Rouge National Cemetery.^[6]

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