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Thomas MacDonald Patterson | |
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| United States Senator fromColorado | |
| In office March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1907 | |
| Preceded by | Edward O. Wolcott |
| Succeeded by | Simon Guggenheim |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromColorado'sat-large district | |
| In office December 13, 1877 – March 3, 1879 | |
| Preceded by | James B. Belford |
| Succeeded by | James B. Belford |
| Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives fromColorado Territory'sat-large district | |
| In office March 4, 1875 – August 1, 1876 | |
| Preceded by | Jerome B. Chaffee |
| Succeeded by | District eliminated |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1839-11-04)November 4, 1839 County Carlow, Ireland |
| Died | July 23, 1916(1916-07-23) (aged 76) Denver, Colorado |
| Resting place | Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Colorado |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Signature |  |
Thomas MacDonald Patterson (November 4, 1839 – July 23, 1916) was an American politician and newspaper publisher who served as a member of theUnited States Senate andUnited States House of Representatives fromColorado.
Thomas MacDonald Patterson was born inCounty Carlow,Ireland on November 4, 1839, but his family emigrated to the United States when he was a boy, and they settled inNew York City in 1849. A few years later, they moved toCrawfordsville, Indiana, where the young Patterson found work in a printing office and with a watchmaker and jeweler.
When theCivil War broke out in 1861, Patterson enlisted in the Eleventh Regiment of the Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He returned home in 1862, and went to college first at Indiana Asbury University (nowDePauw University), then atWabash College.
Patterson was admitted to the bar in 1867 and began his practice in Crawfordsville. In 1872, he moved toDenver, where he started a law practice and was city attorney in 1873 and 1874.
Patterson's political career began when he became a member of theDemocratic National Committee in 1874 (a post he held until 1880). He was then elected as aDemocrat to be a Delegate from the Colorado Territory to the 44th Congress (1875–76), stepping down when the Territory became a State.James B. Belford, aRepublican, was initially elected as Colorado's first Congressman, but Patterson successfully contested his election and served in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 45th Congress (1877–79). Patterson chose not to stand for re-election in 1878.
After leaving Congress, Patterson resumed the practice of law inDenver and purchased first theRocky Mountain News in 1890 and later theDenver Times. During these years, Patterson was twice an unsuccessful Democratic candidate forGovernor of Colorado including in 1888, when he was defeated by RepublicanJob Adams Cooper.
Patterson returned to national politics in 1900 when he was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate, serving a single term (1901–1907) and refusing to stand for re-election.[1] While a senator, Patterson served on theUnited States Senate Committee on the Philippines, which investigated alleged war crimes committed during thePhilippine–American War.
After leaving the Senate, Patterson published his newspaper until his death.
Patterson died at his home in Denver on July 23, 1916.[2] His remains are interred inFairmount Cemetery.
| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Colorado 1888 | Succeeded by Caldwell Yeaman |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Colorado 1914 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives fromColorado 1875–1876 | Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromColorado's at-large congressional district 1877–1879 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Colorado 1901–1907 Served alongside:Henry M. Teller | Succeeded by |
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