Thomas Claiborne (1749–1812)

Thomas Claiborne (February 1, 1749 – 1812) was a planter and politician from Brunswick County, Virginia, who represented Virginia in the United States House of Representatives from 1793 to 1799 and from 1801 to 1805.

Thomas Claiborne
A portrait of Thomas Claiborne by Saint-Mémin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 17th district
In office March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805
Preceded by	Richard Brent
Succeeded by	John Claiborne
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 8th district
In office March 4, 1801 – March 3, 1803
Preceded by	Samuel Goode
Succeeded by	Walter Jones
In office March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1799
Preceded by	Josiah Parker
Succeeded by	Samuel Goode
Member of the Virginia Senate from Brunswick, Lunenberg, Mecklenburg and Greensville Counties
In office 1790–1792
Preceded by	John Jones
Succeeded by	Jesse Browne
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Brunswick County
In office 1784–1787 Alongside Thomas Edmunds, Binns Jones and Andrew Meade
Personal details
Born	(1749-02-01)February 1, 1749 Brunswick County, Virginia Colony, British America
Died	1812 (aged 62–63) Brunswick County, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Other political affiliations	Anti-Administration
Military service
Branch/service	Brunswick County Militia
Years of service	1789
Rank	Colonel

Biography

Claiborne was born in 1749 in Brunswick County in the Colony of Virginia, the son of Colonel Augustine and Mary (Herbert) Claiborne. He was the fifth generation of his family in America, descended from William Claiborne who had settled in Virginia in 1621. He is the father of John Claiborne and Thomas Claiborne (1780–1856), uncle of Nathaniel Herbert Claiborne and William Charles Cole Claiborne, granduncle of John Francis Hamtramck Claiborne, and great-great-great-great-granduncle of Corinne Claiborne Boggs. He owned slaves.^[1]

Claiborne was a member of the State house of delegates (1783–1788), served as colonel in command of the Brunswick County Militia in 1789, sheriff of Brunswick County (1789–1792), and a member of the state senate (1790–1792). He was elected to the Third Congress and reelected as a Republican to the Fourth and Fifth Congresses. His bid for reelection in 1798 was unsuccessful, but he was again elected as a Republican to the Seventh and Eighth Congresses. He died on his estate in Brunswick County in 1812.

He was the father of United States Congressman Thomas Claiborne (1780–1856).

References

1. "Congress slaveowners", The Washington Post, January 13, 2022, retrieved July 4, 2022

External links

• United States Congress. "Thomas Claiborne (id: C000406)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Josiah Parker	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 8th congressional district 1793–1799	Succeeded by Samuel Goode
Preceded by Samuel Goode	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 8th congressional district 1801–1803	Succeeded by Walter Jones
Preceded by Richard Brent	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 17th congressional district 1803–1805	Succeeded by John Claiborne