Philemon Thomas was born in Orange County, Virginia Colony, on February 9, 1763, to Richard Thomas II and Frances Hawkins. He was educated in common schools, and at sixteen, he enlisted as a private in the 6th North Carolina Regiment during the Revolutionary War. He served under the command of General Nathanael Greene, was promoted to the rank of ensign, and saw action at the Battle of Guilford Court House.

After the war ended, Thomas settled in the Kentucky District of Virginia around 1783. He volunteered for military service again after the outbreak of the Northwest Indian War. He fought in the Battle of the Wabash, where he suggested opening a passage through the enemy's lines, a move that saved part of the men under General Arthur St. Clair. After Kentucky was admitted as a state, Thomas served on Kentucky's Constitutional Convention in 1799. He served in the state House and state Senate. He also ran for Congress four times while in Kentucky: in the 2nd congressional district in 1799 and 1801, and in the 6th congressional district in 1803 and 1804.

In 1806, he moved to Spanish West Florida, where he engaged in land speculating and established a grocery business in Baton Rouge. On August 22, 1810, he attended a convention where elected officials debated on overthrowing the Spanish authority in the region. All but one delegate voted in favor of the resolution, and Thomas was appointed as Colonel Commandant of the militia forces by the convention. Colonel Thomas recruited volunteers and moved to take the Fort San Carlos in Baton Rouge before it could be reinforced. At the time, the fort contained only twenty-eight men, including two officers, Lieutenants Luis de Grand Pre and J. B. Metzinger. At midnight on September 22, Thomas ordered his militia to approach the fort and demand its surrender. When they were fired upon, they returned fire, and in the ensuing battle, the militia force was able to take the fort and capture twenty-one prisoners, including Don Carlos de Hault de Lassus, Spanish governor of Baton Rouge.

Shortly after, the convention declared West Florida's independence from Spain, officially changed Thomas' rank to General, and dispatched him to quell loyalist militias in the region. He secured the surrender of loyalists in Springfield and St. Helena Parish, after which John Rhea, President of the convention, requested that President James Madison annex the Republic of West Florida.

Thomas continued his military career in the Louisiana Militia until 1815, serving as a Major General in the War of 1812. He was elected to represent Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, where he served two terms in Congress. In 1820, he was a member of the Electoral College and voted for James Monroe. He ran for Governor twice, in 1824 and in 1828. He died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is interred there in the Baton Rouge National Cemetery.

Philemon Thomas was a member of the United States House of Representatives representing the state of Louisiana. He served two terms as a Democrat (1831–1835).

He was born in Orange County, Virginia and served in the American forces during Revolutionary War and later moved to Kentucky. He was a member of Kentucky's Constitutional Convention and served in the state House and Senate. In 1806 he moved to Louisiana. He commanded troops who in 1810 captured the Spanish fort in at Baton Rouge, commencing the West Florida Rebellion of 1810. A few days later the West Florida Assembly, meeting at Saint Francisville, commissioned Gen. Philemon Thomas to march the West Florida Army across the newly proclaimed Republic.

Philemon Thomas served in the War of 1812 and later served two terms in Congress. He ran for Governor twice, in 1824 and in 1828. He died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Baton Rouge National Cemetery

Louisiana National Cemetery

Grave marker image for (PHILEMON THOMAS).

Thomans was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing the state of Louisiana. He served two terms as a Democrat (1831–1835). He ran for governor twice, in 1824 and in 1828.

He was born in Orange County, Virginia and served in the American forces during Revolutionary War and later moved to Kentucky. He was a member of Kentucky's Constitutional Convention and served in the state House and state Senate. In 1806 he moved to Louisiana. He commanded troops who on September 23, 1810 captured the Spanish fort in at Baton Rouge, commencing the West Florida Rebellion of 1810. A few days later the West Florida Assembly, meeting at Saint Francisville, commissioned Gen. Thomas to march the West Florida Army across the newly proclaimed Republic. He also served in the War of 1812.

According to Southeastern Louisiana University history professor Sam Hyde, residents of the western Florida Parishes proved largely supportive of the revolt, . . . while the majority of the population in the eastern region of the Florida Parishes opposed the insurrection. Thomas’ army violently suppressed opponents of the revolt, leaving a bitter legacy in the Tangipahoa and Tchefuncte River regions.

He died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is at Baton Rouge National Cemetery.


PHILEMON THOMAS

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