Thomas J. Clunie

Thomas Jefferson Clunie (March 25, 1852 – June 30, 1903) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a U.S. representative from California from 1889 to 1891.

Early life Clunie was born in St. John's, Newfoundland on March 25, 1852, while his parents were on a visit there from Massachusetts. He moved with his parents to California in 1854, then to Maine, and then back to California in 1861. He attended public schools in Sacramento, and upon graduation studied law under the tutelage of a Harvard College graduate. He was admitted to the bar in 1868, before the age of majority, under a special act of the legislature. He began his law practice in Sacramento in 1870. At just 23 years old, he was the second-youngest member of the Legislature, behind James G. Maguire (who was also later elected to Congress). Clunie served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1884. He served in the State Senate from 1887 to 1889. He served in the state militia, commanding the 4th Brigade, National Guard of California, before he retired as brigadier general. He was interred in the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery.

Electoral history