Philemon Thomas

Philemon Thomas (February 9, 1763 – November 18, 1847) was an American politician and soldier who served as the U.S. representative from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district from 1831 to 1835. He previously served in the Kentucky state legislature and was a member of the Kentucky Constitutional Convention.

Achieving the rank of major general, he was a military veteran of the American Revolutionary War, the Northwest Indian War, the War of 1812, and commanded the militia forces in the West Florida Revolt.

Biography Philemon Thomas was born in Orange County, Virginia Colony, on February 9, 1763, to Richard Thomas II and Frances Hawkins. He was educated in common schools and when he was sixteen, enlisted as a private in the 6th North Carolina Regiment during the Revolutionary War. He served under the command of General Nathanael Greene, was promoted to the rank of ensign, and saw action at the Battle of Guilford Court House.

After the end of the war, Thomas settled in the Kentucky District of Virginia around 1783. He volunteered for military service again after the outbreak of the Northwest Indian War. He fought in the Battle of the Wabash where he suggested opening a passage through the enemies' lines, a move that saved part of the men under the command of General Arthur St. Clair.

Move to Louisiana In 1806 he moved to Spanish West Florida where he engaged in land speculating and established a grocery business in Baton Rouge. On August 22, 1810, he attended a convention where elected officials debated on overthrowing the Spanish authority in the region. All but one delegate voted in favor of the resolution and Thomas was appointed as commander of the militia force by the convention with the rank of Colonel Commandant. Colonel Thomas recruited volunteers and moved take the Fort San Carlos in Baton Rouge before it could be reinforced. At the time the fort contained only twenty-eight men, including two officers, Lieutenants Luis de Grand Pre and J. B. Metzinger.

On November 10, 1810, Philemon Thomas was elected to the newly established senate. He was made commander of the army and was authorized by the executive committee to assemble a force of over 600 militia to be commanded by Reuben Kemper for an aborted planned campaign to take both Mobile and Pensacola. President Madison instructed William C. C. Claiborne, governor of the Territory of Orleans, to take possession of the area which was incorporated as the County of Feleciana as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Claiborne spoke with Thomas and referred to him as “the Ajax of the late revolution, who [has] always been [an] esteemed and honest man.”

Thomas continued his military career in the Louisiana Militia until 1815, serving as a Major General in the War of 1812. He was elected as representative of Louisiana's 2nd congressional district where he served two terms in Congress. In 1820, he was a member of the Electoral College, voting for James Monroe. He ran for Governor twice, in 1824 and in 1828. He died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is interred there in the Baton Rouge National Cemetery.