Thomas Worthington (governor)

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For other persons named Thomas Worthington, see Thomas Worthington (disambiguation).

Thomas Worthington (July 16, 1773 - June 20, 1827) was a Democratic-Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the 6th Governor of Ohio.

Born in Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia), Worthington moved to Ross County, Ohio in 1796. The home he eventually built just outside of Chillicothe was called Adena and happens to be the namesake of the Adena culture. He served in the Territorial House of Representatives from 1799-1803 and served as a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention in 1803. Worthington was elected one of Ohio's first Senators in 1803, serving until 1807. He was returned to the Senate in December 1810 upon the resignation of Return J. Meigs, Jr. and served until December 1814, when he resigned after winning election to the governorship. He won re-election two years later, moving the state capital from Chillicothe to Columbus. Worthington did not seek re-election in 1818. He narrowly lost a bid for a third partial term in the Senate in 1821, losing to the incumbent governor, Ethan Allen Brown, instead returning to the Ohio House of Representatives.

The city of Worthington, Ohio, was named in his honor, as was Thomas Worthington High School.

Preceded by None	United States Senator (Class 3) from Ohio 1803–1807 Served alongside: John Smith	Succeeded by Edward Tiffin
Preceded by Return J. Meigs, Jr.	United States Senator (Class 1) from Ohio 1810–1814 Served alongside: Alexander Campbell, Jeremiah Morrow	Succeeded by Joseph Kerr
Preceded by Othneil Looker	Governor of Ohio 1814 - 1818	Succeeded by Ethan Allen Brown