Thomas Tudor Tucker
Encyclopedia
Thomas Tudor Tucker was an American
physician and politician from Charleston, South Carolina
. He represented South Carolina
in both the Continental Congress
and the U.S. House
. He later served as Treasurer of the United States
.
to a family prominent in that colony since his ancestors immigrated from England in 1662. His parents were Henry (1713-1785) and Ann Tucker. As a youth, Thomas studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh
in Scotland
. After graduating he moved first to Virginia
before settling in Charleston, South Carolina and opening a practice.
Tucker was an early supporter of the cause of American independence. He was first elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1776, and served there in various years until 1788. In 1781 he joined the Continental Army
as a hospital surgeon supporting the Southern Department, and served until 1783. South Carolina sent him as a delegate to the Continental Congress
in 1787 and again in 1778.
Tucker was opposed to the United States Constitution
, believing that it gave too much authority to the central government. In spite of this, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives
and served in the first two congresses from 1789 until 1793.
On December 1, 1801 President Jefferson
appointed Tucker as Treasurer of the United States
. He held that post through four administrations (Jefferson, Madison
, Monroe
, and J.Q. Adams
), serving until his death in 1828. During this time, he also served as physician to President Madison (1809-1817).
Tucker died while in office at Washington, D.C.
and is buried in the Congressional Cemetery there. His nephew, Henry St. George Tucker, Sr.
, was a U.S. Congressman from Virginia. Another nephew, named for him (Thomas Tudor Tucker
) stayed with the Bermuda branch of the family and served as an Admiral in the British Navy
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician and politician from Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. He represented South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
in both the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
and the U.S. House
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...
. He later served as Treasurer of the United States
Treasurer of the United States
The Treasurer of the United States is an official in the United States Department of the Treasury that was originally charged with the receipt and custody of government funds, though many of these functions have been taken over by different bureaus of the Department of the Treasury...
.
Biography
Thomas was born in St. George, BermudaBermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
to a family prominent in that colony since his ancestors immigrated from England in 1662. His parents were Henry (1713-1785) and Ann Tucker. As a youth, Thomas studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. After graduating he moved first to 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...
before settling in Charleston, South Carolina and opening a practice.
Tucker was an early supporter of the cause of American independence. He was first elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1776, and served there in various years until 1788. In 1781 he joined the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
as a hospital surgeon supporting the Southern Department, and served until 1783. South Carolina sent him as a delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in 1787 and again in 1778.
Tucker was opposed to the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
, believing that it gave too much authority to the central government. In spite of this, he was elected to 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...
and served in the first two congresses from 1789 until 1793.
On December 1, 1801 President Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
appointed Tucker as Treasurer of the United States
Treasurer of the United States
The Treasurer of the United States is an official in the United States Department of the Treasury that was originally charged with the receipt and custody of government funds, though many of these functions have been taken over by different bureaus of the Department of the Treasury...
. He held that post through four administrations (Jefferson, Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
, Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
, and J.Q. Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
), serving until his death in 1828. During this time, he also served as physician to President Madison (1809-1817).
Tucker died while in office at Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and is buried in the Congressional Cemetery there. His nephew, Henry St. George Tucker, Sr.
Henry St. George Tucker, Sr.
Henry St. George Tucker, Sr. was a Virginia jurist, law professor, and U.S. Congressman .-Biography:Tucker was born in Williamsburg, Virginia on December 29, 1780. As a young man, Tucker pursued classical studies at the College of William & Mary; he graduated in 1798...
, was a U.S. Congressman from Virginia. Another nephew, named for him (Thomas Tudor Tucker
Thomas Tudor Tucker (admiral)
Thomas Tudor Tucker, C.B. was a British sailor from Bermuda. He was a Rear Admiral in the British Navy.He was named for an uncle, Thomas Tudor Tucker, who served as Treasurer of the United States....
) stayed with the Bermuda branch of the family and served as an Admiral in the British Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.