Christopher Thomas
Encyclopedia
Christopher Yancy Thomas (March 24, 1818 – February 11, 1879) was a politician and lawyer from Virginia
.
Born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia
, Thomas attended the common schools as a child and went on to graduate from a private academy in 1838. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1844, commencing practice in Martinsville, Virginia
. He served in the Virginia Senate from 1860 to 1864 and was member of the commission to settle the boundary line between Virginia
and North Carolina
. Thomas was prosecuting attorney
for Henry County, Virginia
, was a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention
in 1868 and served in the Virginia House of Delegates
in 1869. He was elected as a Republican
to the United States House of Representatives
in 1873, serving from 1874 to 1875, being unsuccessful for reelection in 1874. Afterward, Thomas resumed practicing law until his death in Martinsville, Virginia
on February 11, 1879. He was interred in the family cemetery in Leatherwood, Virginia.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia
Pittsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 61,745 people, 24,684 households, and 18,216 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile . There were 28,011 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
, Thomas attended the common schools as a child and went on to graduate from a private academy in 1838. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1844, commencing practice in Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville is an independent city which is surrounded by Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,821 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes...
. He served in the Virginia Senate from 1860 to 1864 and was member of the commission to settle the boundary line between Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Thomas was prosecuting attorney
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
for Henry County, Virginia
Henry County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,930 people, 23,910 households, and 16,952 families residing in the county. The population density was 152 people per square mile . There were 25,921 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile...
, was a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
in 1868 and served in the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
in 1869. He was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1873, serving from 1874 to 1875, being unsuccessful for reelection in 1874. Afterward, Thomas resumed practicing law until his death in Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville is an independent city which is surrounded by Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,821 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes...
on February 11, 1879. He was interred in the family cemetery in Leatherwood, Virginia.