Thomas H. Averett

Thomas H. Averett
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853
Preceded by	Thomas Flournoy
Succeeded by	John Caskie
Member of the Virginia Senate for Mecklenburg and Halifax
In office December 4, 1848 – March 1849
Preceded by	Richard H. Baptist
Succeeded by	Tucker Carrington
Personal details
Born	Thomas Hamlet Averett (1800-07-10)July 10, 1800 Halifax County, Virginia
Died	June 30, 1855(1855-06-30) (aged 54) Halifax County, Virginia
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Jefferson Medical College
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Rank	Served as drummer boy
Battles/wars	War of 1812

Thomas Hamlet Averett (July 10, 1800 – June 30, 1855) was a 19th Century American physician, slave owner^[1][2] and U.S. Representative from Virginia from 1849 to 1853.

Biography

Born near Halifax, Virginia, Averett attended the common schools. He served as a drummer boy in the War of 1812.

He studied medicine. He was graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and practiced in Halifax and the adjacent counties.

He served in the State senate in 1848 and 1849. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1846 to the Thirtieth Congress.

Congress

Averett was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-first and Thirty-second Congresses (March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853). During that time, he was responsible for future Confederate cavalry general J.E.B. Stuart's appointment to attend West Point.^[3]

He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1852. He resumed the practice of medicine in Halifax County.

Death and burial

He died near Halifax Court House, Virginia, June 30, 1855. He was interred in the family burial ground near Halifax Court House.

Elections

• 1849; Averett was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 50.75% of the vote, defeating Whig Thomas Stanhope Flournoy.
• 1851; Averett was re-elected with 57.38% of the vote, defeating Whig Flournoy.

References

1. "Congress slaveowners", The Washington Post, 2022-01-19, retrieved 2022-01-23
2. Appeals, Virginia Supreme Court of (1844). Cases Decided in the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia. T. Nicholson.
3. Ball, Durwood (2001). Army regulars on the western frontier, 1848-1861. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. p. 78. ISBN 0-8061-3312-0. OCLC 45080088.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Thomas H. Averett (id: A000343)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Thomas Flournoy	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 3rd congressional district 1849–1853	Succeeded by John Caskie