Thomas Stanhope Bocock
Encyclopedia
Thomas Stanley Bocock was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia
. After serving as an antebellum United States Congress
man, he was the Speaker of the Confederate States House of Representatives
during most of the American Civil War
, Bocock was educated by private teachers as a child. He went on to graduate from Hampden-Sydney College
in 1838, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1840, commencing practice in Buckingham Court House. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from 1842 to 1844 and was the prosecuting attorney
for Appomattox County, Virginia
, in 1845 and 1846.
Bocock was elected a Democrat
to the United States House of Representatives
in 1846, serving from 1847 to 1861. There he served as chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs
from 1853 to 1855 and again from 1857 to 1859. In 1859, Bocock was nominated for Speaker of the House
, but withdrew after eight weeks of debate and multiple ballots failed to elect a speaker.
Following the start of the Civil War and Virginia's secession
, Bocock was elected a Democrat
to the Confederate States House of Representatives
in 1861, serving until the end of the war in 1865. He was a member of the unicameral Provisional Confederate Congress
, as well as the succeeding First
and Second Confederate Congress
es. He was Speaker of the Confederate States House of Representatives from 1862 to 1865.
After the war ended, Bocock served in House of Delegates again from 1877 to 1879 and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1868, 1876 and 1880. He died in Appomattox County, Virginia, on August 5, 1891, and was interred at Old Bocock Cemetery near his plantation
, "Wildway."
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...
. After serving as an antebellum United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
man, he was the Speaker of the Confederate States House of Representatives
Congress of the Confederate States
The Congress of the Confederate States was the legislative body of the Confederate States of America, existing during the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865...
during most 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...
Biography
Born at Buckingham Court House in Buckingham, VirginiaBuckingham, Virginia
Buckingham is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Buckingham County, Virginia, United States...
, Bocock was educated by private teachers as a child. He went on to graduate from Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
in 1838, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1840, commencing practice in Buckingham Court House. He was a member of 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...
from 1842 to 1844 and was the 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 Appomattox County, Virginia
Appomattox County, Virginia
Appomattox County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 14,973. Its county seat is Appomattox. For a long time, Appomattox was a prohibition or dry county...
, in 1845 and 1846.
Bocock was elected a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
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 1846, serving from 1847 to 1861. There he served as chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs
United States House Committee on Armed Services
thumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
from 1853 to 1855 and again from 1857 to 1859. In 1859, Bocock was nominated for Speaker of the House
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
, but withdrew after eight weeks of debate and multiple ballots failed to elect a speaker.
Following the start of the Civil War and Virginia's secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
, Bocock was elected a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Confederate States House of Representatives
Congress of the Confederate States
The Congress of the Confederate States was the legislative body of the Confederate States of America, existing during the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865...
in 1861, serving until the end of the war in 1865. He was a member of the unicameral Provisional Confederate Congress
Provisional Confederate Congress
The Provisional Confederate Congress, for a time the legislative branch of the Confederate States of America, was the body which drafted the Confederate Constitution, elected Jefferson Davis President of the Confederacy, and designed the first Confederate flag...
, as well as the succeeding First
First Confederate Congress
The First Confederate Congress was the first regular term of the legislature of the Confederate States of America. Members of the First Confederate Congress were chosen in elections mostly held on 6 November 1861.-Sessions:...
and Second Confederate Congress
Second Confederate Congress
The Second Confederate Congress was the second and last regular term of the legislature of the Confederate States of America. Members of the Second Confederate Congress were chosen in elections held at various dates in 1863 and 1864...
es. He was Speaker of the Confederate States House of Representatives from 1862 to 1865.
After the war ended, Bocock served in House of Delegates again from 1877 to 1879 and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1868, 1876 and 1880. He died in Appomattox County, Virginia, on August 5, 1891, and was interred at Old Bocock Cemetery near his plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
, "Wildway."