Thomas Reynolds (Governor)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Reynolds was the seventh Governor of Missouri
from 1840 to 1844. He belonged to the Democratic Party
.
Thomas Reynolds was born in Bracken County
, Kentucky
. He served as Clerk for the Illinois House of Representatives
from 1818 until his appointment to the Illinois Supreme Court on August 31, 1822. He remained on the high court until January 19, 1825, and served as the court’s chief justice during his entire tenure. He served one term in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1826 to 1828, and then moved to Missouri where he served in the Missouri House of Representatives
and as a Circuit Judge. In 1840 he was elected Governor of Missouri, a post which he held until his death on February 9, 1844, an apparent suicide.
Reynolds, with just 10 months left to complete his term in office, asked a blessing at the breakfast table, which was not his usual habit. After breakfast, he went to his office in the Executive Mansion, locked the door, and closed the shutters. Later in the day, a passer-by heard a shot, apparently coming from the Executive Mansion. On investigation, Reynolds was found at this desk with the top of his head blown off. Reynolds had placed a rifle against his head and, by means of a string attached to the trigger, had shot himself.
On his writing table was a sealed message addressed to G. Minor which read: "I have labored and discharged my duties faithfully to the public, but this has not protected me from the slanders and abuse which has rendered my life a burden to me…I pray to God to forgive them and teach them more charity."
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
from 1840 to 1844. He belonged to the Democratic Party
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...
.
Thomas Reynolds was born in Bracken County
Bracken County, Kentucky
Bracken County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1797. The population was 8,488 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Brooksville, Kentucky.-History:...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He served as Clerk for the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
from 1818 until his appointment to the Illinois Supreme Court on August 31, 1822. He remained on the high court until January 19, 1825, and served as the court’s chief justice during his entire tenure. He served one term in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1826 to 1828, and then moved to Missouri where he served in the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
and as a Circuit Judge. In 1840 he was elected Governor of Missouri, a post which he held until his death on February 9, 1844, an apparent suicide.
Reynolds, with just 10 months left to complete his term in office, asked a blessing at the breakfast table, which was not his usual habit. After breakfast, he went to his office in the Executive Mansion, locked the door, and closed the shutters. Later in the day, a passer-by heard a shot, apparently coming from the Executive Mansion. On investigation, Reynolds was found at this desk with the top of his head blown off. Reynolds had placed a rifle against his head and, by means of a string attached to the trigger, had shot himself.
On his writing table was a sealed message addressed to G. Minor which read: "I have labored and discharged my duties faithfully to the public, but this has not protected me from the slanders and abuse which has rendered my life a burden to me…I pray to God to forgive them and teach them more charity."