Richard Thomas (Zarvona)
Encyclopedia
Richard Thomas Zarvona born Richard Thomas Jr., was an American
adventurer and a Confederate Army officer
who became known as "the French lady" after a disguised Thomas and a crew of accomplices seized the passenger steamer St. Nicholas during the first year of the American Civil War
, planning to raid the sloop of war USS Pawnee.
The eldest son of former Maryland
House of Delegates
speaker
Richard Thomas Sr. and the nephew of Maryland governor
James Thomas
, Richard Thomas Jr. was born and raised in "Mattapany," the Thomas family plantation
south of the Patuxent River
. An accomplished athlete and sportsman, Thomas attended Charlotte Hall Military Academy
and another military school in nearby Talbot County, Maryland
, before receiving appointment to the U.S. Military Academy
at West Point
, New York
in 1850. Thomas survived his plebe year with 189 demerits, but resigned in October 1851. He then traveled the world, serving for a time with Garibaldi in Italy. It was then that he added "Zarvona" to his name.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
adventurer and a Confederate Army officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
who became known as "the French lady" after a disguised Thomas and a crew of accomplices seized the passenger steamer St. Nicholas during the first year of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, planning to raid the sloop of war USS Pawnee.
The eldest son of former Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
speaker
Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates
The Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates presides as speaker over the House of Delegates in the state of Maryland in the United States.-List of Speakers of the House of Delegates:- References :*...
Richard Thomas Sr. and the nephew of Maryland governor
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
James Thomas
James Thomas (Governor of Maryland)
James Thomas served as the 23rd Governor of the state of Maryland in the United States from 1833 to 1836. He practiced medicine and served as judge in several courts throughout Maryland, and served in the Maryland State Senate from 1824–1830.-Biography:He was born at "De la Brooke Manor," in...
, Richard Thomas Jr. was born and raised in "Mattapany," the Thomas family plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
south of the Patuxent River
Patuxent River
The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between...
. An accomplished athlete and sportsman, Thomas attended Charlotte Hall Military Academy
Charlotte Hall Military Academy
Charlotte Hall Military Academy, located at Charlotte Hall, Maryland, was established as Charlotte Hall School in 1774 by Queen Charlotte to provide for the liberal and pious education of youth to better fit them for the discharge of their duties for the United States...
and another military school in nearby Talbot County, Maryland
Talbot County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*81.4% White*12.8% Black*0.2% Native American*1.2% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.6% Two or more races*2.7% Other races*5.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, before receiving appointment to the U.S. Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1850. Thomas survived his plebe year with 189 demerits, but resigned in October 1851. He then traveled the world, serving for a time with Garibaldi in Italy. It was then that he added "Zarvona" to his name.