Thomas Ford (Governor)

Thomas Ford

Thomas Ford (born December 5, 1800 in Uniontown , Fayette County , Pennsylvania , † November 3, 1850 in Peoria , Illinois ), was an American lawyer and politician ( Democratic Party ) and from 1842 to 1846 the eighth governor of the state of Illinois .

Early years and political advancement

Thomas Ford attended Transylvania University , then studied law and practiced as a lawyer in Waterloo and Edwardsville . He took part in the Black Hawk War as a colonel . His political career began in 1829 when he became a district attorney in the Illinois Fifth Judicial District. He held this office until 1835. In the following years until 1842 he worked as a judge at various courts. He was elected the new governor of Illinois on August 1, 1842, and was introduced to his four-year term on December 8.

Illinois Governor

During this tenure, a full-blown civil war broke out between the Mormons and their neighbors, especially in the area around the Mormon city of Nauvoo . The conflict was sparked over the question of religion and the way of life of the Mormons. To restore order, the governor installed the National Guard . During these clashes, Mormon leader Joseph Smith and his brother were lynched by an angry crowd . As a result, the Mormons left the state and made their way to Utah . During Ford's tenure, the Illinois-Michigan Canal was finally completed. The railway expansion also went ahead. At the same time, the governor stopped the infrastructure expansion program decided in 1837 under Joseph Duncan . The so-called Internal Improvement Act had devoured huge sums of money and brought the state budget into trouble. With the help of taxes and other levies, Ford battled the budget deficit. A resounding success was denied him. The financial consequences of the debt caused by this project were still noticeable until 1882. Illinois supported the US Army with six regiments and a few volunteer companies in the war against Mexico .

Another résumé

Due to a constitutional clause, Ford could not be directly re-elected. Therefore, he resigned on December 9, 1846 from his office. He then withdrew from politics and practiced as a lawyer in Peoria . He died there in 1850. He was married to Frances Hambaugh, with whom he had five children.

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personal data
SURNAME	Ford, Thomas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American lawyer and politician
DATE OF BIRTH	5th December 1800
PLACE OF BIRTH	Uniontown , Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH	November 3, 1850
Place of death	Peoria , Illinois