Thomas Flournoy | |
|---|---|
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromVirginia's3rd district | |
| In office March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 | |
| Preceded by | William Tredway |
| Succeeded by | Thomas H. Averett |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Stanhope Flournoy December 15, 1811 |
| Died | March 12, 1883(1883-03-12) (aged 71) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | |
| Alma mater | Hampden-Sydney College |
| Profession | lawyer, politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Unit |  6th Virginia Cavalry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War Jackson's Valley Campaign Battle of Port Republic Battle of Cross Keys |
Thomas Stanhope Flournoy (December 15, 1811 – March 12, 1883) was a Virginia planter, lawyer and politician who representedHalifax County in theVirginia Secession Convention of 1861 after representingVirginia's 3rd congressional district in theUnited States House of Representatives. Flournoy also had several unsuccessful political campaigns, as well as fought as acavalry officer in theConfederate States Army during theAmerican Civil War.
Born inPrince Edward County, Virginia, to the former Ann Carrington Cabell (1787-1854) and her husband John James Flournoy. Flournoy had at least one older sister, Anne Eliza Flournoy Wood, and a younger brother, Dr. Patrick Henry Flournoy of Charlotte County. Flournoy received a private education appropriate to his class, and graduated fromHampden-Sydney College. His paternal ancestor Matthew Flournoy (d. 1761) had owned significant property in bothPrince Edward, andHalifax Counties before the American Revolutionary War, and may have been descended from John James or Jacob Flournay, the son and nephew ofHuguenot refugee Jacques Flournoy who had emigrated to the Virginia Colony from Geneva Switzerland in the 17th century.[1] However, this man's descendants listed their patriot ancestor in that conflict of JudgePaul Carrington (1733-1818) ofCharlotte County. In any event, Thomas Flournoy lived at a Halifax County home which Mathew Flournoy had rebuilt after a fire when it had been owned by William Clairborne, but another fire destroyed that home long before 1924.[2]
After completing his formal education at Hampden-Sydney, Flournoy took a job teaching children while also reading law books under the direction of an experienced practitioner (Virginia at the time having no publicly supported schools).Admitted to the bar, Flournoy commenced practice inHalifax, Virginia, in 1834.
Flournoy also operated one or more plantations using enslaved labor. In 1830, Flournoy owned 28 enslaved people in Prince Edward County.[3] In 1840, Flournoy owned 30 enslaved people in Halifax County.[4] It is unclear whether he was the Thomas Flournoy who owned 24 slaves in Charlotte County in 1850.[5] In the last federal census with slave schedules, Flournoy 38 enslaved people in Halifax County.[6]
Voters in Virginia's 3rd congressional district elected Flournoy as aWhig to theThirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849). However, he was not re-elected. In 1848 and likewise in 1850 he lost toDemocratThomas H. Averett. Flournoy also unsuccessfully ran as the candidate of theAmerican Party forGovernor of Virginia in 1855, losing toJacksonian DemocratHenry A. Wise.
Halifax County voters elected Flournoy and wealthy planter (and former state delegate)James Coles Bruce as their representatives to theVirginia Secession Convention of 1861 at Richmond. Both men voted against secession during the first vote, but for secession at the final vote, after the conflict began at Fort Sumter, South Carolina.
After the First Battle of Manassas in July 1861, Flournoy raised a company of cavalry in Halifax County for theConfederate States Army (some almost as old as he).[7] Initially commissioned ascaptain of Company G of the6th Virginia Cavalry, Flournoy was promoted tomajor on April 15, 1862, and tocolonel on July 16, 1862. He participated inStonewall Jackson's 1862Valley Campaign and saw action at the battles ofPort Republic andCross Keys. Flournoy resigned on October 15, 1862 because of "domestic difficulties".[8] However, he returned and was wounded in battle in June 1864.[9]
Flournoy campaigned to become Governor of Virginia in 1863, but lost to General"Extra Billy" Smith.
After the war, Flournoy settled inDanville, Virginia, and again practiced law. He served as delegate to the1876 Democratic National Convention.
Flournoy first married on December 30, 1834 or January 1, 1835 to Susan Ann Love, whose father Allen Love, was a local lawyer. The wedding was held at the estate of General Edward C. Carrington in Halifax County, and before her death Susan Flournoy bore six children. After his first wife's death Flournoy remarried, to somewhat distant relative Mildred H. Coles, daughter of Hon.Walter Coles of Pittsylvania County and granddaughter ofPaul Carrington of Charlotte County. His son H.W. Flournoy (b. 1846) also fought for the confederacy, and practiced law in Danville until elected judge of the corporation court in June 1870 and was re-elected but resigned in 186, then moved toWashington County in the Commonwealth's southwest corner before being elected secretary of the Commonwealth in 1883 and twice winning re-election.[10]
Flournoy died at his home inHalifax County, Virginia, March 12, 1883, and was interred in the family plot on his estate.
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
| Party political offices | ||
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| First | Know Nothing nominee forGovernor of Virginia 1855 | Succeeded by None |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromVirginia's 3rd congressional district 1847–1849 | Succeeded by |
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