Thomas Glascock


Thomas Glascock Jr. was an American politician, soldier and lawyer. His wife was Catherine Rector.

Early years

Thomas Glascock, Jr. was born in Augusta, Georgia on October 21, 1790, seven years after the end of the American War of Independence. He studied law, gained admission to the state bar, and began practicing law in a career path that would underpin his later political service. Both his father and grandfather had distinguished themselves in military and political service to the new United States. Brigadier General Thomas Glascock Sr. rescued Count Casimir Pulaski from the Siege of Savannah, while serving in Georgia in the Virginia Dragoons during the American Revolution. General Glascock's subsequent appointment as Marshal of Georgia was conferred upon him by President George Washington on May 31, 1794. Thomas Jr's grandfather was Colonel William Glascock, who was acting governor of Georgia for a period during the American Revolution at Augusta. President George Washington stayed with William at the Glascock family plantation in Augusta during his presidency.

Military service

Glascock was as a captain of Volunteers in the War of 1812. He was subsequently commissioned as a brigadier general in the Georgia Militia and served in the First Seminole War in 1817. During that campaign, he served under General Andrew Jackson, later President of the United States. When President James Monroe visited Augusta in 1819, Major General Valentine Walker and General Thomas Glascock took him on a tour of the U.S. Arsenal being constructed beside the Savannah River.

Political office

At the age of 18, Glascock was a delegate to the constitutional convention in 1798. Political offices held by Glascock include the Georgia State House of Representatives where he also served as speaker in 1833 and 1834. Upon the resignation of John W. A. Sanford, Glascock was elected to fill Sanford's seat in the United States House of Representatives and was reelected in 1836. During his congressional tenure, Glascock served as the chairman of the Committee on Militia.

Death and legacy

After his political career, Glascock lived in Decatur, Georgia and died in that city in 1841. He was buried in the City Cemetery in his birthplace of Augusta. Glascock County, Georgia is named in his honor.