Thomas Hart Ruffin

Thomas Hart Ruffin (September 9, 1820 – October 13, 1863) was an American politician, lawyer, and military officer. A Democrat, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina, and later a delegate to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States. He died fighting in the American Civil War.

Early life and education Ruffin was born on September 9, 1820, in Louisburg, North Carolina, the son of Henry John Gray Ruffin and Mary (née Polly) Tartt Ruffin. He was a distant cousin of judge Thomas Ruffin (The Philadelphia Inquirer erroneously claims Thomas was his father ), and was thereby related to politicians Charles R. Thomas and Charles R. Thomas Jr. He was also a second cousin of Edmund Ruffin.

Ruffin was a Democrat. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1853, to March 3, 1861, representing North Carolina's 2nd district. He resigned following Southern secession. From June 18 to July 25, 1861, he was a delegate to the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States from North Carolina. He supported secession on the basis of states' rights.

Military service and death Ruffin graduated from the United States Military Academy. He was buried at a private cemetery near Louisburg.