Thomas Earle | |
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| Born | (1796-04-21)April 21, 1796 Leicester, Massachusetts |
| Died | July 14, 1849(1849-07-14) (aged 53) Willow Grove, Pennsylvania |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, lawyer, politician |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5, includingGeorge H. Earle, Sr. |
| Father | Pliny Earle I |
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Thomas Earle (April 21, 1796 – July 14, 1849) was an Americanjournalist,lawyer, andpolitician.[1]The son ofPliny Earle, he was born inLeicester, Massachusetts, the descendant of Ralph Earle, one of the original petitioners ofKing Charles I to found the state ofRhode Island. His son was a Philadelphia lawyerGeorge H. Earle, Sr. His grandson, born after his death, was noted "financial diplomat"George H. Earle, Jr. His great-grandson wasGeorge Howard Earle III, governor ofPennsylvania.
Thomas Earle was born inLeicester, Massachusetts in 1796, the son of Patience (Buffum) and Pliny Earle I.[2] He was educated at Leicester academy. In 1817 he moved toPhiladelphia, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits for a few years, but subsequently studied law and practiced his profession. He became distinguished also as ajournalist, editing in succession theColumbian Observer,Standard,Pennsylvanian,Pennsylvania Freeman, andMechanics' Free Press and Reform Advocate.[3] In 1837 he took an active part in calling the Constitutional convention of Pennsylvania, of which he was a prominent member,[4] and it is supposed that he made the original draft of the new constitution. He lost his popularity with the Democratic Party by advocating the extension of the right ofsuffrage toAfrican Americans.[2]
He was thevice-presidential candidate in the1840 presidential election; he ran on theLiberty Partyticket withJames G. Birney. Although they pulled in less than seven thousand votes, their following became the germ of theRepublican Party.[3]
In 1837-1838 Earle was a delegate to the convention to revisePennsylvania's constitution. There he was one of the strongest defenders of theblack voting rights, along withThaddeus Stevens. His defense of black voting rights was, however, unsuccessful. The new constitution included the word "white", formally disenfranchising blacks for the first time.[5]
He died inWillow Grove, Pennsylvania in 1849, aged 53.[2][6]
Earle married Mary Hussey in 1820, and they had five children.[2] Their daughterCaroline Earle White was an American philanthropist andanti-vivisection activist. She co-founded PSPCA in 1867, and also founded the Women's Humane Society of the PSPCA in 1869 and theAmerican Anti-Vivisection Society in 1883.
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