Thomas Ruffin (politician)

Thomas Ruffin

Thomas Hart Ruffin (born September 9, 1820 in Louisburg , Franklin County (formerly part of Edgecombe County ), North Carolina , †  October 13, 1863 in Alexandria , Virginia ) was an American politician ( Democratic Party ).

Ruffin attended community schools and then graduated from the University of North Carolina Law School at Chapel Hill in 1841 . After his admission as a lawyer, he opened his own practice. He later served as a district attorney for seven Missouri State judicial districts from 1844 to 1848 . Ruffin decided to embark on a political career in 1852 by running for a seat in the 33rd US Congress . He won the election, was re-elected three times, and served in the US House of Representatives from March 4, 1853 to March 3, 1861 .

After the secession of his home state in 1861, he represented it in July of the same year as a delegate to the Provisional Confederate Congress in Richmond . He also served in the Confederate Army with the rank of Colonel in the 1st North Carolina Cavalry during the American Civil War . He was fatally wounded on October 13, 1863 in a cavalry fight before the Battle of Bristoe Station and then died in captivity near Alexandria. He found his final resting place in a private cemetery in his hometown near Louisburg.

Web links

• Thomas Ruffin in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Thomas Ruffin in the database of Find a Grave (English)
• The Political Graveyard