Thomas Claiborne | |
|---|---|
 Claiborne in Masonic regalia,ca. 1813 | |
| Member of the United States House of Representatives fromTennessee's5th district | |
| In office March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1819 | |
| Preceded by | Newton Cannon |
| Succeeded by | Newton Cannon |
| Member of theTennessee House of Representatives | |
| In office 1811-1812 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1780-05-17)May 17, 1780 |
| Died | January 7, 1856(1856-01-07) (aged 75) |
| Party | Democratic-Republican |
Thomas Claiborne (May 17, 1780 – January 7, 1856) was an AmericanDemocratic-Republican politician and son of Virginia CongressmanThomas B. Claiborne, who continued the family's political and planter traditions and served in theUnited States House of Representatives for the state of Tennessee.
Son of Mary &Thomas B. Claiborne was born inBrunswick County, Virginia. The Claiborne family was one of theFirst Families of Virginia since the 17th century, when members sat on the Virginia governor's council and traded with native Americans and others in England, Maryland and Virginia. An earlierThomas Claiborne sat in theHouse of Burgesses representingKing William County (and he or his son established the historic house atSweet Hall). This boy's father, who also served as a Virginia legislator and U.S. Congressman, was the fifth generation to hold such political and economic power. This boy received an education appropriate to his class, although it remains unclear whether he attended the College of William and Mary, as had other members of the family.
While his father served in the Revolutionary War, this Thomas Claiborne served on the staff of Gen.Andrew Jackson in theCreek War, with the rank of Major.
Claiborne readlaw and was admitted to the bar and commenced practice inNashville, Tennessee, in 1807. In the 1820 federal census, he owned 21 slaves, but a decade later, he owned eight slaves.[1][2] Two decades later, he owned ten slaves, including two 44 year old women, a 30-year old woman, a three year old girl and two 2-year old boys.[3]
As a member of Tennessee House of Representatives from 1811 to 1812, fellow delegates elected him as their Speaker, so he presided over the latter sessions. Claiborne also served as a United States Marshal.[4] Elected as aDemocratic-Republican to theFifteenth Congress, Claiborne served from March 4, 1817 to March 3, 1819.[5] He also served as Mayor of Nashville in 1818.
Claiborne died on January 7, 1856, at the age of 75 years, 235 days. He is interred atNashville City Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee.[6]
Claiborne represented Hiram Lodge No. 7 and Cumberland Lodge No. 8, of the Free and Accepted Masons, at the formation of theGrand Lodge of Tennessee on December 27, 1813. He was chosen Most Worshipful Grand Master of Tennessee from 1813 to 1814.[7] He resumed the practice of law in Nashville.
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
| Masonic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New office | Grand Master of theGrand Lodge of Tennessee 1813–1814 | Succeeded by Robert Searcy |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromTennessee's 3rd congressional district 1817–1819 | Succeeded by |
