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Thomas Walker Gilmer
Member From: 1829 - 1840
- Birth Date: April 6, 1802 Birth Place:"Gilmerton", Albemarle County, Virginia
- Death Date: February 28, 1844
- Gender: Male Race: Caucasian, Scottish
- Spouse: Anne Elizabeth Baker (May 23, 1826). Miss Baker was the daughter of Congressman John Baker, who served as counsel for Aaron Burr when he was tried for treason.
- Children:
- Religion:
- Education:
- Military Service:
- Occupation/Profession: Lawyer and briefly editor of the Virginia Advocate
- Additional Info: Thomas Gilmer resigned the governorship in March 1841 after the General Assembly refused to support his position on the extradition of slave stealers.
Gilmer was killed alongside President John Tyler's entire cabinet onboard the U.S.S. Princeton on the Potomac River, near Washington, D.C. on February 28, 1844, when a gun burst.
- Bio: Born at ”Gilmerton”, Albemarle County, Va., April 6, 1802. Died aboard U. S. S. Princeton, February 28, 1844. Buried in “Mount Air” cemetery Albemarle County, Va. Thomas W. Gilmer of Albemarle County was the son of George and Eliza (Hudson) Gilmer. He was educated by private tutors, was a lawyer, and briefly editor of the Virginia Advocate. He was a member of the House of Delegates, 1829-31, 1832-34, 1835-36, 1839-40; Governor of Virginia, 1840-4!; member of the U. S. House of Representatives, 1841-44; and Secretary of the Navy, 1844. He resigned the governorship in March 1841, after the General Assembly refused to support his position on the extradition of slave stealers. He died when President John Tyler's entire cabinet was killed by the bursting of a gun on board the U. S. S. Princeton on the Potomac River, near Washington, D. C. He married, May 23, 1826, Anne Elizabeth Baker, daughter of Honorable John Baker, member of Congress, and Anne (Mark) Baker, of Shepherd- stown, now West Virginia. John Baker was counsel for Aaron Burr when he was tried for treason.
- Other Notable Service and/or Elected Offices:
Governor of Virginia (March 31, 1840- March 20, 1841)
U.S. House of Representatives (March 4, 1841-Feb. 16, 1844)
Speaker of the House of Delegates (1839-1840)
Secretary of the Navy, 1844
| Session | District | District Number | Party | Leadership | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1829-1830 | Albemarle | Whig | Courts of Justice
Public Library Schools and Colleges |
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| 1830-1831 | Albemarle | Whig | Revolutionary Claims (Chair) Courts of Justice Finance Public Libraries Schools and Colleges |
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| 1832-1833 | Albemarle | Whig | Courts of Justice
Finance |
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| 1833-1834 | Albemarle | Whig | Schools and Colleges (Chair) Courts of Justice |
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| 1835-1836 | Albemarle | Whig | Courts of Justice | ||
| 1839 | Albemarle | Whig | Speaker of the House | ||
| 1839-1840 | Albemarle | Whig | Speaker of the House |
*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.