Thomas Jenkins Semmes
Encyclopedia
Thomas Jenkins Semmes was a lawyer and politician in the state
of Louisiana
who served in the Confederate States Senate during much of the American Civil War
.
Semmes was born in Washington, D.C.
He studied law, passed the bar exam, and established a practice in New Orleans, Louisiana
. Semmes served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
, the state attorney general
, and was a delegate to the Louisiana secession convention
in 1861. He was later a Confederate Senator in 1862-1865. His home in Federal-occupied New Orleans was commandeered by order of Maj. Gen.
Benjamin Butler
to quarter Union
troops. Semmes was a strong supporter and advocate of Louisiana troops, including the famed Louisiana Tigers
, in which his brother Andrew served as a regimental surgeon.
Semmes died in New Orleans and was interred in Metairie Cemetery.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
who served in the Confederate States Senate during much of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Semmes was born in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He studied law, passed the bar exam, and established a practice in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. Semmes served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the US state of Louisiana. The House is composed of 105 Representatives, each of whom represents approximately 42,500 people . Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of...
, the state attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
, and was a delegate to the Louisiana secession convention
Ordinance of Secession
The Ordinance of Secession was the document drafted and ratified in 1860 and 1861 by the states officially seceding from the United States of America...
in 1861. He was later a Confederate Senator in 1862-1865. His home in Federal-occupied New Orleans was commandeered by order of Maj. Gen.
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
Benjamin Butler
Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)
Benjamin Franklin Butler was an American lawyer and politician who represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives and later served as the 33rd Governor of Massachusetts....
to quarter Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
troops. Semmes was a strong supporter and advocate of Louisiana troops, including the famed Louisiana Tigers
Louisiana Tigers
Louisiana Tigers was the common nickname for certain infantry troops from the state of Louisiana in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Originally applied to a specific company, the nickname expanded to a battalion, then to a brigade, and eventually to all Louisiana troops...
, in which his brother Andrew served as a regimental surgeon.
Semmes died in New Orleans and was interred in Metairie Cemetery.