Thomas J. Drake
Encyclopedia
For other Thomas Drakes, please see Thomas Drake (disambiguation)
Thomas Jefferson Drake (April 18, 1797 – April 20, 1875) was a politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
and in 1822 moved to Pontiac
in the Michigan Territory
.
He was a member Michigan Territorial Council, 1828-31; member of Michigan Territorial Senate, 1834; member of Michigan Senate
3rd District, 1839-41; and also Presidential Elector for Michigan in 1840 to elect William Henry Harrison
.
While serving as president pro tempore of the Michigan Senate, Drake served as the third Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
from February 23, 1841 to January 3, 1842 under James Wright Gordon
after the resignation of Governor
William Woodbridge
. Under the 1835 constitution, the lieutenant governor had no specifically defined duties other than presiding over the senate and as filling in as acting governor. He was also a Whig
candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan’s 3rd congressional district, 1843 losing to Democrat
James B. Hunt
.
Drake was later a delegate to Republican National Convention
from Michigan, 1856 as well as Presidential Elector to elect John C. Fremont
, who lost to James Buchanan
. He served as justice of Utah Territorial Supreme Court
, 1862-1869.
Drake died two days after his 78th birthday and is interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac, Michigan
.
Thomas Jefferson Drake (April 18, 1797 – April 20, 1875) was a politician from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Biography
Drake was born in Scipio, New YorkScipio, New York
Scipio is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,713 at the 2010 census. The town name was provided by a clerk with an interest in the classics....
and in 1822 moved to Pontiac
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
in the Michigan Territory
Michigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan...
.
He was a member Michigan Territorial Council, 1828-31; member of Michigan Territorial Senate, 1834; member of Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
3rd District, 1839-41; and also Presidential Elector for Michigan in 1840 to elect William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
.
While serving as president pro tempore of the Michigan Senate, Drake served as the third Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
The Lieutenant Governor of Michigan is the second-ranking official in U.S. state of Michigan, behind the governor, and one of four great offices of state...
from February 23, 1841 to January 3, 1842 under James Wright Gordon
James Wright Gordon
James Wright Gordon , usually referred to as J. Wright Gordon, was a Whig politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Gordon was born in Plainfield, Connecticut and studied law.-Life and politics in Michigan:...
after the resignation of Governor
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
William Woodbridge
William Woodbridge
William Woodbridge was a U.S. statesman in the states of Ohio and Michigan and in the Michigan Territory prior to statehood...
. Under the 1835 constitution, the lieutenant governor had no specifically defined duties other than presiding over the senate and as filling in as acting governor. He was also a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
candidate for U.S. Representative from Michigan’s 3rd congressional district, 1843 losing to Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
James B. Hunt
James B. Hunt
James Bennett Hunt was a politician and judge from the U.S. state of Michigan.Hunt was born in Demerara, British Guiana . He moved with his father to New York City in 1803. There he later pursued an academic course, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1824, and commenced practice in New York...
.
Drake was later a delegate to Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
from Michigan, 1856 as well as Presidential Elector to elect John C. Fremont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
, who lost to James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
. He served as justice of Utah Territorial Supreme Court
Utah Supreme Court
The Utah Supreme Court is the supreme court of the state of Utah, USA. It has final authority of interpretation of the Utah Constitution. The Utah Supreme Court is composed of five members: a chief justice, an associate chief justice, and three justices. All justices are appointed by the governor...
, 1862-1869.
Drake died two days after his 78th birthday and is interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
.