Thomas M. Pettit
Encyclopedia
Thomas McKean Pettit was a United States
lawyer
, politician
, and judge
who was briefly Director of the United States Mint
in 1853 before his death in office.
) and his wife Elizabeth (McKean) Pettit (daughter of Thomas McKean
). Pettit entered the College of the University of Pennsylvania
in 1812. On October 2, 1813, he was one of thirteen founding members of the Philomathean Society
. He received an A.B. in 1815 and an A.M. in 1818.
After graduating from college, Pettit became a lawyer
. By 1820, he was City Solicitor of Philadelphia. From 18254 to 1828, he was Deputy Attorney General to the Supreme and Oyer and Terminer
Courts of Philadelphia. He was elected as a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
in 1830; in 1831, he also served as a member of the Philadelphia.
In 1832, Pettit became an Associate Judge
of the District Court of Philadelphia. From 1835 to 1845, he was the district's presiding judge. He resigned from the bench in 1845 when he was appointed United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. President of the United States
Martin Van Buren
later appointed him to the Board of Visitors of the United States Military Academy
. In 1853, President Franklin Pierce
appointed Pettit Director of the United States Mint
. Pettit, however, died after only a few weeks in office.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
who was briefly Director of the United States Mint
Director of the United States Mint
The Director of the United States Mint is the head of the United States Mint. The position is currently vacant following the resignation of Edmund C. Moy in January 2011....
in 1853 before his death in office.
Biography
Thomas M. Pettit was born in Philadelphia on December 26, 1797, the son of merchant Andrew Pettit (son of Charles PettitCharles Pettit
Charles Pettit was an American lawyer and merchant from New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served as a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Confederation Congress from 1785 to 1787.-Biography:...
) and his wife Elizabeth (McKean) Pettit (daughter of Thomas McKean
Thomas McKean
Thomas McKean was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the American Revolution he was a delegate to the Continental Congress where he signed the United States Declaration of Independence and the Articles of...
). Pettit entered the College of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1812. On October 2, 1813, he was one of thirteen founding members of the Philomathean Society
Philomathean Society
The Philomathean Society of the University of Pennsylvania is a collegiate literary society, the oldest student group at the university, and a claimant to the title of the oldest continuously-existing literary society in the United States.This claim is disputed between the Philomathean Society and...
. He received an A.B. in 1815 and an A.M. in 1818.
After graduating from college, Pettit became a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. By 1820, he was City Solicitor of Philadelphia. From 18254 to 1828, he was Deputy Attorney General to the Supreme and Oyer and Terminer
Oyer and terminer
In English law, Oyer and terminer was the Law French name, meaning "to hear and determine", for one of the commissions by which a judge of assize sat...
Courts of Philadelphia. He was elected as a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
in 1830; in 1831, he also served as a member of the Philadelphia.
In 1832, Pettit became an Associate Judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the District Court of Philadelphia. From 1835 to 1845, he was the district's presiding judge. He resigned from the bench in 1845 when he was appointed United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
later appointed him to the Board of Visitors of the United States 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...
. In 1853, President Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce was the 14th President of the United States and is the only President from New Hampshire. Pierce was a Democrat and a "doughface" who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Pierce took part in the Mexican-American War and became a brigadier general in the Army...
appointed Pettit Director of the United States Mint
Director of the United States Mint
The Director of the United States Mint is the head of the United States Mint. The position is currently vacant following the resignation of Edmund C. Moy in January 2011....
. Pettit, however, died after only a few weeks in office.