Thomas Gholson

Thomas Gholson Jr. (1780July 14, 1816) was an American lawyer and politician. He represented Virginia from 1808 to 1816 in the United States House of Representatives, after serving in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1806 to 1809. Early life and education He was born in 1780, the son of Thomas Gholson and Jane Parry. Career After reading law, he was admitted to the bar and began his legal practice in Brunswick County, Virginia. He served as member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1806 to 1809. Gholson was elected as a Republican to the Tenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Dr. John Claiborne of Brunswick County. He was reelected to the Eleventh and to the three succeeding Congresses (November 7, 1808 – July 4, 1816), although due to the redistricting after the 1810 census, he was re-elected for the final two times from Virginia's 18th congressional district rather than Virginia's 17th congressional district (both congressional districts having by now become obsolete). During the War of 1812, the British invaded Washington, D.C. and Gholson became a volunteer aide on the staff of General Peter Buell Porter. Wounded, he recovered enough to remain in office and win re-election, although he would ultimately die from its effects two years later. During his final stint (in the Twelfth Congress), Gholson served as chairman of the Committee on Claims. Thomas M. Nelson, who captained Virginia infantry regiments during the War of 1812, succeeded to his congressional seat. Personal life On July 28, 1806, Thomas Gholson Jr. married Anne Yates, the daughter of a former Virginia militiaman on General Washington's staff, and granddaughter of Rev. William Yates, the College of William & Mary's fifth president (1761–1764) and the namesake for Yates Hall on the college's campus; and a descendant of William Randolph, a colonist and land owner who played an important role in the history and government of the Commonwealth of Virginia.