Thomas H. B. Browne
Encyclopedia
Thomas Henry Bayly Browne (February 8, 1844 – August 27, 1892) was a Republican
member of the United States House of Representatives
from Virginia
's 1st congressional district (1887–1891). He was born in Drummondtown
, Accomack County, Virginia
. During the American Civil War
he served in the Confederate Army. After the war he became an attorney
. He died in Drummondtown
(soon after renamed Accomac
).
Browne had been educated by private tutors and later attended Hanover Academy and Bloomfield Academy in Virginia. During the Civil War he enlisted as a private in Company F of the 39th Regiment of the Virginia Volunteer Infantry. He later served in the Stuart Horse Artillery and was with the Army of Northern Virginia
when it surrendered at Appomattox Court House
on April 9, 1865.
After the war Browne studied law and graduated from the law department of the University of Virginia
in 1867. He was admitted to the bar in 1868 and returned to his home town to practice law. He was elected prosecuting attorney for Accomack County
in 1873.
In 1886 he was elected as a Republican
to represent Virginia's first congressional district in the 50th United States Congress
. Two years later he was re-elected to the 51st Congress
, but in 1890 was unsuccessful in his re-election bid.
Browne returned to his law practice in Drummondtown
, where he died a few months later. He was buried in Mount Custis Cemetery.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
's 1st congressional district (1887–1891). He was born in Drummondtown
Accomac, Virginia
Accomac is a town in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 547 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Accomack County.-General information:* ZIP Code: 23301* Area Code: 757* Local Phone Exchange: 787...
, Accomack County, Virginia
Accomack County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 33,164 people, 15,299 households, and 10,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There were 19,550 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he served in the Confederate Army. After the war he became an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. He died in Drummondtown
Accomac, Virginia
Accomac is a town in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 547 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Accomack County.-General information:* ZIP Code: 23301* Area Code: 757* Local Phone Exchange: 787...
(soon after renamed Accomac
Accomac, Virginia
Accomac is a town in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 547 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Accomack County.-General information:* ZIP Code: 23301* Area Code: 757* Local Phone Exchange: 787...
).
Browne had been educated by private tutors and later attended Hanover Academy and Bloomfield Academy in Virginia. During the Civil War he enlisted as a private in Company F of the 39th Regiment of the Virginia Volunteer Infantry. He later served in the Stuart Horse Artillery and was with the Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
when it surrendered at Appomattox Court House
Appomattox Court House
The Appomattox Courthouse is the current courthouse in Appomattox, Virginia built in 1892. It is located in the middle of the state about three miles northwest of the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, once known as Clover Hill - home of the original Old Appomattox Court House...
on April 9, 1865.
After the war Browne studied law and graduated from the law department of the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in 1867. He was admitted to the bar in 1868 and returned to his home town to practice law. He was elected prosecuting attorney for Accomack County
Accomack County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 33,164 people, 15,299 households, and 10,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There were 19,550 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
in 1873.
In 1886 he was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to represent Virginia's first congressional district in the 50th United States Congress
50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
. Two years later he was re-elected to the 51st Congress
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
, but in 1890 was unsuccessful in his re-election bid.
Browne returned to his law practice in Drummondtown
Accomac, Virginia
Accomac is a town in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 547 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Accomack County.-General information:* ZIP Code: 23301* Area Code: 757* Local Phone Exchange: 787...
, where he died a few months later. He was buried in Mount Custis Cemetery.
Sources
- "BROWNE, Thomas Henry Bayly, (1844–1892)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. United States Congress. (Retrieved September 21, 2006).