Thomas Whitehead (politician)
Thomas Whitehead | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 6th district | |
| In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | |
| Preceded by | John T. Harris |
| Succeeded by | John R. Tucker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 27, 1825 Lovingston, Virginia |
| Died | July 1, 1901 (aged 75) Lynchburg, Virginia |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Politician, Lawyer, Merchant, Editor |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service | Confederate Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 2nd Virginia Cavalry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Thomas Whitehead (December 27, 1825 – July 1, 1901) was a nineteenth-century politician, lawyer, editor and merchant from Virginia.
Biography
Born in Lovingston, Virginia, Whitehead received a limited education as a child, later engaged in mercantile pursuits, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1849, commencing practice in Amherst, Virginia. During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate Army as captain of Company E, 2nd Virginia Cavalry from 1861 to 1865. Afterwards, he was elected to the Virginia Senate, but Reconstruction prevented him from taking seat. Whitehead was elected prosecuting attorney for Amherst County, Virginia in 1866 and again in 1869, resigning in 1873. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1872, serving from 1873 to 1875 and afterwards was editor of the Lynchburg News in 1876 and of the Lynchburg Advance in 1880. Whitehead resumed practicing law and was elected commissioner of agriculture for Virginia in 1888, serving until his death on July 1, 1901 near Lynchburg, Virginia. He was interned in Spring Hill Cemetery in Lynchburg.
Electoral history
1872; Whitehead was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 51.40% of the vote, defeating Independent J. Foote Johnson.
External links
- United States Congress. "Thomas Whitehead (id: W000401)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-02-14
- "Thomas Whitehead". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
- 1825 births
- 1901 deaths
- People from Nelson County, Virginia
- Virginia Democrats
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia
- Virginia lawyers
- American newspaper editors
- Confederate States Army officers
- People of Virginia in the American Civil War
- People from Lynchburg, Virginia
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- 19th-century American politicians
- Journalists from Virginia