Thomas M. Browne facts for kids
Thomas McLelland Browne (born April 19, 1829 – died July 17, 1891) was an important American politician. He served as a U.S. Representative for the state of Indiana. This means he was a member of the United States House of Representatives, helping to make laws for the country.
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Early Life and Education
Thomas Browne was born in New Paris, Ohio, in 1829. When he was about 14 years old, in January 1844, his family moved to Indiana. He went to regular schools there.
In 1848, he moved to Winchester, Indiana. Thomas was very interested in law. He studied hard to become a lawyer. By 1849, he had passed his exams and officially became a lawyer. He then started his own law practice in Winchester.
Legal and State Government Work
Thomas Browne quickly became known for his legal skills. In 1855, he was chosen to be a prosecuting attorney. This is a lawyer who works for the government. Their job is to bring legal cases against people accused of crimes. He was re-elected to this role in 1857 and again in 1859.
In 1861, Thomas took on another important role. He became the Secretary of the Indiana State Senate. The State Senate is part of Indiana's state government that makes laws for the state. He later served as a member of the State Senate himself in 1863.
Military Service in the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Thomas Browne played a part in the Union Army. He helped to create the Seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Cavalry. This was a group of soldiers from Indiana who volunteered to fight.
On August 28, 1863, he joined the regiment as a captain. Soon after, on October 1, 1863, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He continued to rise in rank, becoming a colonel on October 10, 1865. He was also given the honorary title of brigadier general. Thomas Browne left the army on February 18, 1866, after the war ended.
Political Career
After his military service, Thomas Browne continued his work in government. In April 1869, he was appointed as the United States Attorney for the district of Indiana. This meant he was the chief federal prosecutor for Indiana. He held this position until August 1, 1872.
In 1872, he decided to run for governor of Indiana. He won the nomination from the Republican Party. However, he lost the main election to the Democratic candidate, Thomas A. Hendricks. In 1876, he was a delegate at the Republican National Convention. This is a big meeting where the Republican Party chooses its candidate for president.
Serving in Congress
Thomas Browne was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1876. He started his term on March 4, 1877. He served in Congress for many years, until March 3, 1891.
While in Congress, he led important committees. He was the chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions. This committee helped soldiers who were injured or disabled during their service. Later, he chaired the Committee on Revision of the Laws. This committee worked on updating and improving the country's laws. He decided not to run for re-election in 1890.
Later Life
Thomas Browne passed away in Winchester, Indiana, on July 17, 1891. He was buried in Fountain Park Cemetery in Winchester.
