Thomas Stevenson Drew

Thomas Drew

Thomas Stevenson Drew (born August 25, 1802 in Wilson County , Tennessee , † January 1, 1879 in Lipan , Texas ) was an American politician and Governor of Arkansas from 1844 to 1849 .

Early years

Thomas Drew grew up on a farm and attended local schools in his home in Tennessee. Via Louisiana he came to Arkansas in 1818, where he worked as a peddler and at times as a teacher. In 1823 he was employed by the Clark County County Council . Shortly afterwards he became a justice of the peace in Caddo Township. After his marriage to Cinderella Bettis in 1827, he worked the land his wife had received as a dowry. Soon a new plantation was built in Randolph County and it was very successful. In 1832 Drew was keeping twenty slaves.

Political rise

In 1827, Drew was elected a Lawrence County Judge . He held this office until 1835. He was also a member of the Constituent Assembly of Arkansas. Politically, Drew was a member of the Democratic Party . He supported Governor James Sevier Conway and his political friends. By 1840, Drew had already gained some influence within the party without seeking a higher office himself. In the run-up to the gubernatorial elections of 1844, the hour came when the Democratic Party had fallen out internally. One could not agree on a candidate and in the end Drew appeared as a compromise solution.

Arkansas Governor

After winning the election, Thomas Drew was able to take up his new office on November 5, 1844. The main problem of his tenure was overcoming the aftermath of the economic depression that occurred in 1837. But Drew could not achieve this goal. But he campaigned for the improvement of the infrastructure and the establishment of a state college. Drew supported the annexation of Texas to the United States and he was for the war against Mexico . At the same time he was a supporter of the southern states whose political views he shared. In 1848, Drew was confirmed in office. But in January 1849 he resigned. The reason was his private financial situation. He had speculated on railroad stocks and hoped in vain for an increase in his governor's salary. Out of disappointment, he finally resigned from the office of governor.

Further life

In the following years Drew tried to get his financial situation in order. In 1858 he ran unsuccessfully for the US Congress. The civil war and its aftermath then ruined it for good. In the early 1870s he moved to live with his daughter in Texas . He died there in 1879. Thomas Drew was married to Fanny Akins, with whom he had five children.

literature

Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Drew, Thomas Stevenson
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Drew, Thomas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician, governor of Arkansas
DATE OF BIRTH	August 25, 1802
PLACE OF BIRTH	Wilson County , Tennessee
DATE OF DEATH	January 1, 1879
Place of death	Lipan , Texas