David Thomas (New York politician) explained

David Thomas
Office1:New York State Treasurer
Term Start1:February 18, 1812
Term End1:February 10, 1813
Predecessor1:Abraham G. Lansing
Successor1:Charles Z. Platt
Term Start2:February 5, 1808
Term End2:February 8, 1810
Predecessor2:Abraham G. Lansing
Successor2:Abraham G. Lansing
Office3:Member of the United States House of Representatives from New York
Constituency3: (1801–1803)
(1803–1808)
Term Start3:March 4, 1801
Term End3:May 1, 1808
Predecessor3:John Thompson
Successor3:Nathan Wilson
Birth Date:11 June 1762
Birth Place:Pelham, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America
Death Place:Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Resting Place:Evergreen Cemetery, Salem, New York
Nationality:American
Occupation:Tavern owner
Politician
Party:Democratic-Republican Party

David Thomas (June 11, 1762November 27, 1831) was an American politician. He served three full terms and one partial term in the United States House of Representatives (1801-1808), and three years as New York State Treasurer (1808-1810, 1812-1813).

Life

Thomas was born and educated in Pelham, Massachusetts and was a veteran of the American Revolution. In 1777 he joined a militia unit which traveled from Massachusetts to defend Rhode Island from the British Army. In 1781 he joined the Fifth Massachusetts Regiment as a corporal, and later became a sergeant in the Third Massachusetts Regiment.

He moved to Salem, New York in 1784, where he owned and operated a tavern for several years. He was commissioned a captain in the New York State Militia in 1786 and rose to the rank of major general of the northern division of the militia in 1805.

He was a member of the New York State Assembly from Washington and Clinton Counties in 1794, and from Washington County from 1798 to 1800. He was town supervisor of Salem from 1797 to 1800, and a justice of the peace from 1798 to 1801, in 1804 and 1811.

Thomas was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Congresses, and served from March 4, 1801 to May 1, 1808, when he resigned.

He was New York State Treasurer from February 5, 1808 to February 8, 1810, and again from February 18, 1812 to February 10, 1813.

Thomas later moved to Providence, Rhode island, where he died on November 27, 1831. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Salem, New York.

Sources