Thomas Walker Gilmer
Encyclopedia
Thomas Walker Gilmer was an American
statesman.
. He was taught by private tutors in Charlottesville
and Staunton
, and studied law in Liberty (now Bedford
), Virginia.
Gilmer practiced law
in Charlottesville. He was, briefly, editor of the Virginia Advocate, a Charlottesville newspaper
.
On May 23, 1826, Gilmer married Anne Elizabeth Baker of Shepherdstown
, now in West Virginia
. Her late father, John Baker
, had been a member of the United States House of Representatives
. They had a son, George Hudson Gilmer, a Presbyterian minister.
Gilmer first served in the Virginia House of Delegates
from 1829-36, representing Albemarle County. He returned in 1839-40 and was named Speaker.
On February 14, 1840, Gilmer was elected the 28th Governor of Virginia
. While in office, he had a disagreement with the Virginia General Assembly
over the extradition
of slave stealers, which played a part in his running for Congress the following winter.
In March 1841 he entered the 27th Congress, and although he had been elected as a Whig, voted to sustain Democratic
President
John Tyler
's veto
es. He was re-elected to the 28th Congress as a Democrat in 1842 by a close vote. His competitor, William L. Goggin
, contested the result without success.
As one of President Tyler's close Virginia allies in Washington, Gilmer was involved in the effort by the Tyler Administration to make the annexation of Texas the basis for his failed bid for reelection in 1844. On February 15, 1844, he was appointed by Tyler to be U.S. Secretary of the Navy, and resigned his seat in Congress on February 18 to enter on the duties of the office, but 10 days later was killed by the bursting of a gun
on board USS Princeton
while on a tour of the Potomac River
. His death meant the loss of a valuable ally for Tyler and some historians suggest that it may have delayed the Texas annexation effort.
. A year after his death, Gilmer County, Virginia
was named in his honor; it is now part of West Virginia. The city of Gilmer, Texas
is also named for him. (Gilmer is the county seat
of Upshur County, Texas
, named after Abel Parker Upshur, another victim of the USS Princeton explosion.)
Two ships of the United States Navy
have been named USS Gilmer
in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
statesman.
Personal life
Gilmer was born to George and Eliza Gilmer at their farm, "Gilmerton", in Albemarle County, VirginiaAlbemarle County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,236 people, 31,876 households, and 21,070 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 33,720 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile...
. He was taught by private tutors in Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
and Staunton
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
, and studied law in Liberty (now Bedford
Bedford, Virginia
Bedford is an independent city located within the confines of Bedford County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It serves as the county seat of Bedford County. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 6,222. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Bedford with surrounding Bedford...
), Virginia.
Gilmer practiced law
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...
in Charlottesville. He was, briefly, editor of the Virginia Advocate, a Charlottesville newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
.
On May 23, 1826, Gilmer married Anne Elizabeth Baker of Shepherdstown
Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Shepherdstown is a town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States, located along the Potomac River. It is the oldest town in the state, having been chartered in 1762 by Colonial Virginia's General Assembly. Since 1863, Shepherdstown has been in West Virginia, and is the oldest town in...
, now in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. Her late father, John Baker
John Baker (representative)
John Baker was an American politician who represented Virginia in the United States House of Representatives from 1811 to 1813....
, had been a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. They had a son, George Hudson Gilmer, a Presbyterian minister.
Political career
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
from 1829-36, representing Albemarle County. He returned in 1839-40 and was named Speaker.
On February 14, 1840, Gilmer was elected the 28th Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
. While in office, he had a disagreement with the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
over the extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
of slave stealers, which played a part in his running for Congress the following winter.
In March 1841 he entered the 27th Congress, and although he had been elected as a Whig, voted to sustain Democratic
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...
President
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....
John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
's veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
es. He was re-elected to the 28th Congress as a Democrat in 1842 by a close vote. His competitor, William L. Goggin
William L. Goggin
William Leftwich Goggin was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia.-Biography:Born near Bunker Hill, Virginia , Goggin attended country schools and was eventually graduated from Tucker’s Law School. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1828, commencing practice in...
, contested the result without success.
As one of President Tyler's close Virginia allies in Washington, Gilmer was involved in the effort by the Tyler Administration to make the annexation of Texas the basis for his failed bid for reelection in 1844. On February 15, 1844, he was appointed by Tyler to be U.S. Secretary of the Navy, and resigned his seat in Congress on February 18 to enter on the duties of the office, but 10 days later was killed by the bursting of a gun
USS Princeton Disaster of 1844
The USS Princeton Disaster of 1844 occurred on February 28 aboard the newly built USS Princeton when one of the ship's long guns, the "Peacemaker", then the world's longest naval gun, exploded during a display of the ship...
on board USS Princeton
USS Princeton (1843)
The first Princeton was the first screw steam warship in the United States Navy. She was launched in 1843, decommissioned in 1847, and broken up in 1849....
while on a tour of the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
. His death meant the loss of a valuable ally for Tyler and some historians suggest that it may have delayed the Texas annexation effort.
Legacy
Gilmer is buried at Mount Air Cemetery in Gilbert, VirginiaGilbert, Virginia
Gilbert is an unincorporated community in Albemarle County, Virginia....
. A year after his death, Gilmer County, Virginia
Gilmer County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,160 people, 2,768 households, and 1,862 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 3,621 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
was named in his honor; it is now part of West Virginia. The city of Gilmer, Texas
Gilmer, Texas
Gilmer is also the name of a county in West Virginia.Gilmer is a town in and the county seat of Upshur County, Texas, United States. It is best known for being the birthplace of popular music singer Johnny Mathis. The population was 4,799 at the 2000 census...
is also named for him. (Gilmer is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Upshur County, Texas
Upshur County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,291 people, 13,290 households, and 10,033 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile . There were 14,930 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, named after Abel Parker Upshur, another victim of the USS Princeton explosion.)
Two ships of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
have been named USS Gilmer
USS Gilmer
Two ships in the United States Navy have been named USS Gilmer for Thomas Walker Gilmer.* The first Gilmer was a Clemson-class destroyer commissioned in 1920 and decommissioned in 1946....
in his honor.