Thomas Jenkins Semmes | |
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| Confederate States Senator fromLouisiana | |
| In office February 18, 1862 – May 10, 1865 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Attorney General of Louisiana | |
| In office 1860–1864 | |
| Preceded by | Warren Moise |
| Succeeded by | Flavillus Goode |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1824-12-16)December 16, 1824 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | June 23, 1899(1899-06-23) (aged 74) New Orleans,Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
Thomas Jenkins Semmes (December 16, 1824 – June 23, 1899) was an American politician who served as aConfederate States Senator fromLouisiana from 1862 to 1865. He was the 9th president of the American Bar Association 1886–1887.
Thomas Jenkins Semmes was born inGeorgetown (Washington, D.C.), son of Raphael Semmes, of theCharles County, Maryland (Tayloe's Neck) Semmes, and Mary Matilda Jenkins Semmes. The Semmes family were merchants of English and French descent. He graduated from Georgetown College (nowGeorgetown University) in 1842, and received a law degree fromHarvard University in 1845. He practiced law in Washington DC until 1850, when he moved to New Orleans. There he became active in theDemocratic Party and was soon elected a member of theLouisiana House of Representatives. PresidentJames Buchanan appointed himUnited States Attorney forthe Eastern District of Louisiana in 1857, serving till 1859, He was appointedAttorney General of Louisiana in 1860, serving till 1864.
He became a strong advocate of secession. In 1862, he was electedConfederate States Senator from Louisiana, serving until 1865. He was a strong supporter and advocate of Louisiana troops, including the famedLouisiana Tigers, in which his brother Andrew served as a regimental surgeon.
Semmes was a close adviser to Confederate PresidentJefferson Davis. Due tothe Union occupation of New Orleans in 1862, he resided inRichmond during the war, less than a block away from the White House of the Confederacy. Semmes was credited with creating the motto for the Confederacy, "Deo vindice" which appears on the seal. Senator Semmes, in proposing this motto, took pains to stress that the Confederacy had "deviated in the most emphatic manner from the spirit that presided over the construction of the Constitution of the United States, which is silent on the subject of the Deity", and he clearly expected this invocation to bring his side victory.
Semmes' home in Federal-occupied New Orleans was commandeered by order of GeneralBenjamin Butler to quarterUnion troops.
After the war, Semmes resumed the practice of law in New Orleans. He became a professor of law at the University of Louisiana (nowTulane University). He served as a member of theLouisiana Constitutional Conventions of 1879 and1898. In 1886-1887, he served as President of theAmerican Bar Association. Semmes was president ofThe Boston Club (an exclusive social club) in 1883–1892.
Semmes was married on January 8, 1850, inMontgomery, Alabama, to Myra Eulalia Knox and they had seven children. He continued to live in New Orleans, and also maintained a summer home at 191 Culpeper Street inWarrenton, Virginia, which was built in 1873. The home is known as "The Louisiana House."
In 1900 a public school at 1008 Jourdan Street in New Orleans was named for him. The building was sold to a non-profit and suffered significant damage inHurricane Katrina. It continues to suffer from demolition by neglect.
He died in New Orleans in 1899 and is interred inMetairie Cemetery.[1][2]
A first cousin wasRaphael Semmes, captain of theCSSAlabama and later admiral. Raphael Semmes, son of Richard Thompson Semmes and Catherine Middleton Semmes, grew up with his cousin in Georgetown after Raphael's parents died.
Thomas Jenkins Semmes' sister,Cora Matilda Semmes Ives, was an American writer known for her pro-Confederate utopian novelThe Princess of the Moon: A Confederate Fairy Story, published in 1869.
| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Attorney General of Louisiana 1860–1864 | Succeeded by Flavillus Goode |
| Confederate States Senate | ||
| New constituency | Confederate States Senator (Class 2) from Louisiana 1862–1865 Served alongside:Edward Sparrow | Constituency abolished |
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| Class 2 | ||
| Class 3 | ||
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