Thomas Mathews (politician)

Thomas Mathews (1742–1812) was an American Revolutionary War general and Virginia politician. He represented Norfolk Borough in the Virginia House of Delegates, and served as that body's Speaker from 1782 until 1793.[1]

Miniature of Gen. Thomas Mathews
Thomas Mathews
7th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office
1782–1793
Preceded byJoseph Prentis
Succeeded byJohn Wise
Personal details
Bornc, 1742
Saint Kitts, West Indies
Died1812
Near Norfolk, Virginia
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceVirginia provincial militia
Years of serviceMilitia: 1776-1783
RankBrigadier General
Battles/warsAmerican Revolutionary War
 • Battle of Great Bridge
 • Battle of Yorktown

Thomas Mathews was born c. 1742 on Saint Kitts, an island of the West Indies. He was appointed brigadier general in the Virginia militia in 1776, and led a company to the Battle of Great Bridge, and later to the Battle of Yorktown. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in post-war years and after serving in house for several years was elected its Speaker in 1782, remaining as such through the 1793 legislation. He was afterward a candidate for the governorship of Virginia, but he withdrew his nomination.[1]

He was a mason, and in 1790 was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia. He served as grand master until 1793, at which point the office was passed to John Marshall.[1]

Mathews County, Virginia was named for him.[1] He has been connected to the Mathews family of Virginia by some historians,[1][2] though the connection has not been made by others.[3][4]

See also

References
  1. Harris, J.D. (1901) General Thomas Mathews. The Virginia Law Register , Vol. 7, No. 3 (Jul., 1901), pp. 153-158 https://www.jstor.org/stable/1100495 Retrieved October 25, 2013
  2. Lexington Gazette (1938). "Capt. John Mathews and his Descendants." 1738–1938. Bi-centennial Issue: Commemorating the Settlement of the Rockbridge Section of Virginia by the White Men. A Tribute to the Scotch-Irish Pioneers. Lexington Gazette (Virginia)
  3. Washington and Lee University (1890). Historical Papers, Volumes 1–2. New York Public Library: Washington and Lee University, 1890 https://books.google.com/books?id=9p4gAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA87&dq=%22sampson+mathews%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8IWVUJiMFqSa0QGKm4GQAQ&ved=0CDoQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22sampson%20mathews%22&f=false Retrieved November 3, 2012
  4. Waddell, Joseph A (1902) Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, from 1726 to 1871, Waddell's Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, from 1726 to 1871, retrieved October 20, 2012
  • List of former Speakers of the House of Delegates, in the old House chamber in the Virginia State Capitol



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