Philip Francis Thomas (Congressional Biographical Dictionary)

THOMAS, Philip Francis, a Representative and Senator-elect from Maryland; born in Easton, Talbot County, Md., September 12, 1810; attended the academy in Easton, and was graduated from Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., in 1830; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1831 and commenced practice in Easton, Md.; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1836; member of the State house of delegates in 1838, 1843, and 1845; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1839-March 3, 1841); declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1840; resumed the practice of law; Governor of Maryland 1848-1851; judge of the land office court of eastern Maryland; Comptroller of the United States Treasury 1851-1853; collector of the port of Baltimore, Md., 1853-1860; United States Commissioner of Patents from February 16 to December 10, 1860; appointed Secretary of the Treasury in the Cabinet of President Buchanan and served from December 10, 1860, to January 11, 1861; again a member of the State house of delegates in 1863; presented credentials as a Senator-elect to the United States Senate for the term beginning March 4, 1867, but was not seated; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1875-March 3, 1877); declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1876; unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate in 1878; again elected a member of the State house of delegates in 1878 and 1883; delegate to the Democratic State convention in 1883; resumed the practice of law in Easton, Md.; died in Baltimore, Md., October 2, 1890; interment in Spring Hill Cemetery, Easton, Md.