Thomas Elder (lawyer)

Thomas Elder
Pennsylvania Attorney General
In office
December 20, 1820 – December 18, 1823
Preceded by Thomas Sergeant
Succeeded by Frederick Smith
Personal details
Born January 30, 1767
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Died April 29, 1853 (aged 86)
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Spouse(s)
  • Catherine Cox
  • Elizabeth Shippen Jones
Children 1,3 (survived to adulthood)

Thomas Elder (January 30, 1767–April 29, 1853[1]) was a Pennsylvania lawyer, who served as state Attorney General.

Biography and career

Elder was born the son of the Reverend John Elder and his second wife, Mary Simpson.[2] The senior Elder was born, raised, and educated in Edinburgh. In Paxtang, Pennsylvania, he became known as the "Fighting Pastor", who organized an anti-Indian militia known as the Paxton Boys.

Thomas Elder was educated at the Academy of Philadelphia, and admitted to the Dauphin County bar in 1791. He volunteered to help suppress the Whiskey Rebellion, declining commissions until afterwards, when he was made lieutenant colonel. He practiced law for over forty years. He was active in Harrisburg affairs, notably he was "the prominent and leading spirit" behind organizing the company that built (1814–20) the first Harrisburg bridge, and was elected and re-elected by the directors as the organization's first president, until he resigned in 1846.[1] He was president of the Harrisburg Bank from 1816 until his death.[3] He served as state Attorney General from 1820–23. Afterwards, he always refused political offices.[3]

Elder married Catherine Cox in 1799. A daughter, Mary R., would later marry Amos Ellmaker. Catherine died in 1810. Elder then married Elizabeth Shippen Jones in 1813, she would outlive Elder.[4]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Egle 1886, p. 159.
  2. ↑ Egle 1886, p. 155.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Egle 1886, p. 160.
  4. ↑ Egle 1886, pp. 160–1.

Further reading

Legal offices
Preceded by
Thomas Sergeant		 Attorney General of Pennsylvania
1820–1823 		Succeeded by
Frederick Smith