Thomas Kirker
Encyclopedia
Thomas Kirker was a Democratic-Republican politician from Ohio
. He served as the second Governor of Ohio.
Kirker was born in County Tyrone, Ireland
. He moved with his father to Lancaster, Pennsylvania
in 1779. He moved with his new wife to Kentucky
in 1790 and then Liberty Township
, Adams County
, Ohio
three years later. He was a delegate to the Ohio Constitutional Convention
in 1802. He served in the first Ohio House of Representatives
in 1803 and then in the Ohio State Senate from 1803 to 1815. While serving as Speaker of the Senate, Kirker became Governor upon the resignation of Edward Tiffin
to take a seat in the U.S. Senate
. Kirker's term was extended through the 1807–1808 meeting of the Assembly due to the disqualification of Return J. Meigs, Jr.
who had won the 1807 election to the governorship but had been disqualified by the Assembly as he had not met the residency requirements. Kirker ran for re-election in 1808, but lost badly to Samuel H. Huntington
. Kirker later returned to the Assembly, serving in the House of Representatives from 1816 to 1817 and in the State Senate from 1821 to 1825. Ohio Presidential elector in 1824 for Henry Clay
.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He served as the second Governor of Ohio.
Kirker was born in County Tyrone, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He moved with his father to Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
in 1779. He moved with his new wife to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
in 1790 and then Liberty Township
Liberty Township, Adams County, Ohio
Liberty Township is one of the fifteen townships of Adams County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,816 people in the township, 1,776 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
, Adams County
Adams County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,330 people, 10,501 households, and 7,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 11,822 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
three years later. He was a delegate to the Ohio Constitutional Convention
Ohio Constitutional Convention (1802)
The Enabling Act of 1802 was passed on April 30, 1802 by the Seventh Congress of the United States. This act authorized the residents of the eastern portion of the Northwest Territory to form the state of Ohio and join the U.S. on an equal footing with the other states...
in 1802. He served in the first Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
in 1803 and then in the Ohio State Senate from 1803 to 1815. While serving as Speaker of the Senate, Kirker became Governor upon the resignation of Edward Tiffin
Edward Tiffin
Edward Tiffin was a Democratic-Republican politician from Ohio, and first Governor of the state.-Biography:Sources indicate that he was born in Carlisle; however he may have been born in or near Workington — also in the then county of Cumberland, England...
to take a seat in the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Kirker's term was extended through the 1807–1808 meeting of the Assembly due to the disqualification of Return J. Meigs, Jr.
Return J. Meigs, Jr.
Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr. was a Democratic-Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the fourth Governor of Ohio, fifth United States Postmaster General, and as a U.S. Senator.-Biography:...
who had won the 1807 election to the governorship but had been disqualified by the Assembly as he had not met the residency requirements. Kirker ran for re-election in 1808, but lost badly to Samuel H. Huntington
Samuel H. Huntington
Samuel H. Huntington was an American jurist who was the third Governor of Ohio from 1808 to 1810.He was the nephew and adopted son of Samuel Huntington, the fourth President of the Continental Congress and First President of the United States in Congress Assembled under the Articles of...
. Kirker later returned to the Assembly, serving in the House of Representatives from 1816 to 1817 and in the State Senate from 1821 to 1825. Ohio Presidential elector in 1824 for Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
.