Thomas Sappington

Thomas Sappington (c. 1789 – July 18, 1857) was an American politician from Maryland. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates and Maryland Senate.

Thomas Sappington
Member of the Maryland Senate from the Western Shore district
In office 1831–1836
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the Frederick County district
In office 1825–1827 Serving with Samuel Barrnes, John C. Cockey, William P. Farquhar, Alexander McIlhenny
Preceded by	Samuel Barnes, Joseph M. Cromwell, William P. Farquhar, Henry Kemp
Succeeded by	Nicholas Holtz, David Kemp, Isaac Shriver, Francis Thomas
Personal details
Born	c. 1789 Libertytown, Maryland, U.S.
Died	(1857-07-18)July 18, 1857 Frederick, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Whig Democratic Know Nothing
Spouse(s)	Sarah Coale Louisa C. Klein
Children	16, including Greenberry
Parent	Francis Brown Sappington (father)
Relatives	Richard F. Sappington (grandson)
Occupation	Politician newspaper editor farmer

Early life

Thomas Sappington was born around 1789 in Libertytown, Maryland, to Ann (née Ridgely or Richelieu) and Francis Brown Sappington.^[1][2][3] His father was a physician in Libertytown and served as a state delegate.^[2][4] His mother was a relative of Cardinal Richelieu.^[2] He was educated in schools in Frederick County.^[3]

Career

As a young man, Sappington traveled with Mr. Beard to Kentucky to visit his uncle, John Sappington. He settled in Beardstown.^[2][3] While in Kentucky, he served in a cavalry regiment in the War of 1812. He served under William Henry Harrison and was at the Battle of Tippecanoe.^[1][2] After the war, he ran a store in Libertytown with his brother Francis B. for a short time.^[2][5] He also worked as a farmer.^[3]

Sappington was first a Whig and later became a Democrat. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Frederick County from 1825 to 1827.^[4][6] He served as a member of the Maryland Senate, representing the Western Shore from 1831 to 1836. He was president and president pro tempore of the senate in 1834.^[6][7] He chaired the 1833 reform convention in Baltimore.^[8]

Sappington was appointed as register of wills by Governor Thomas Pratt in 1844 or 1845. He served in that role until 1851.^[2][6][5] He then was editor of the Frederick Herald for three years.^[6][5] At the time of his death, he was affiliated with the American (Know Nothing) Party.^[3]

Personal life

Sappington married Sarah Coale, daughter of Richard Cole and sister of James M. Coale. They had nine sons and two daughters, including James, John, Thomas, Henry, Greenberry R., Sidney, Augustus, William Coale, Francis B., Caroline (or Catherine) and Sarah "Sally" R.^[1][2][3] He later married Louisa (Louise) C. Klein, daughter of Charles S. Klein. They had five sons, Richelieu, Richard D., Wentworth, Francis Brown and George.^[2][3] His son Greenberry served in the Maryland senate.^[3] His grandson Richard F. Sappington was a state delegate.^[9]

Sappington died on July 18, 1857, in Frederick.^[6][3]