Thomas Fielder Bowie (April 7, 1808 – October 30, 1869)
was an American politician who served in office from 1842 to 1859.
Early life
Born in
Queen Anne, in
Prince George's County, Maryland
)
, demonym = Prince Georgian
, ZIP codes = 20607–20774
, area codes = 240, 301
, founded date = April 23
, founded year = 1696
, named for = Prince George of Denmark
, leader_title = Executive
, leader_name = Angela D. Alsobroo ...
, Bowie attended
Charlotte Hall Military Academy
Charlotte Hall Military Academy, located at Charlotte Hall, Maryland, was established as Charlotte Hall School in 1774 by Queen Charlotte to provide for the liberal and pious education of youth to better fit them for the discharge of their duties ...
in
St. Mary's County, Maryland and
Princeton College
Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nine ...
.
In 1826, Bowie was elected to the New York Alpha of
Phi Beta Kappa
The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States, and the most prestigious, due in part to its long history and academic selectivity. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal a ...
. He graduated from
Union College
Union College is a private liberal arts college in Schenectady, New York. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and second in the state of New York, after Columbia Co ...
in
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady () is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2020 census, the city's population of 67,047 made it the state's ninth-largest city by population. The city is in eastern New Y ...
in 1827.
While at Union College, Bowie helped found the
Sigma Phi
The Sigma Phi Society () was founded on the Fourth of March in the year 1827, on the campus of Union College as a part of the Union Triad in Schenectady, New York. It is the second Greek fraternal organization founded in the United States. fraternity on March 4, 1827. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1829, and commenced practice in
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Upper Marlboro, officially the Town of Upper Marlboro, is the seat of Prince George's County, Maryland. Aso of the 2020 census, the population was 652. although Greater Upper Marlboro is many times larger.
Etymology
Upper Marlboro was establ ...
.
Bowie was a slave owner.
Political career
He served as deputy attorney general for
Prince George's County
)
, demonym = Prince Georgian
, ZIP codes = 20607–20774
, area codes = 240, 301
, founded date = April 23
, founded year = 1696
, named for = Prince George of Denmark
, leader_title = Executive
, leader_name = Angela D. Alsobrook ...
from 1833 to 1842, and as a member of the
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the legislature of the State of Maryland. It consists of 141 delegates elected from 47 districts. The House of Delegates Chamber is in the Maryland State House on State Circle in Annapolis, ...
from 1842 to 1846.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of the State of Maryland is the head of government of Maryland, and is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state and has a broad range of appointive powers ...
in 1843, and was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1850 to the Thirty-second Congress.
However, Bowie served as a member of the State constitutional convention in 1851, as member of the judicial committee assisting in framing the State's new constitution, and as presidential elector on the Whig ticket in 1852.
In 1854 and 1856, Bowie was elected from the
sixth district of Maryland as a Democrat to the
Thirty-fourth and
Thirty-fifth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1855, to March 3, 1859.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-nomination in 1858 to the Thirty-sixth Congress.
After Congress, he resumed the practice of his profession.
Death
He died in Upper Marlboro and is interred in the Waring family burying ground at
Mount Pleasant, near Upper Marlboro.
Further reading
*
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowie, Thomas Fielder
1808 births
1869 deaths
Bowie family
Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates
Princeton University alumni
People from Prince George's County, Maryland
Union College (New York) alumni
Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Maryland
People from Upper Marlboro, Maryland
College fraternity founders
Sigma Phi
19th-century American politicians