Thomas McHugh (politician)
Thomas Morris McHugh (November 22, 1822 – March 19, 1856) was an Irish American immigrant and lawyer who served as the first Secretary of State of Wisconsin. He had previously served as Secretary of the Territorial Council and the second Wisconsin Constitutional Convention.
Thomas McHugh | |
|---|---|
| 1st Secretary of State of Wisconsin | |
| In office June 7, 1848 – January 7, 1850 | |
| Governor | Nelson Dewey |
| Preceded by | Position Established |
| Succeeded by | William A. Barstow |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Morris McHugh November 22, 1822 Mohill, Co. Leitrim, Ireland, UK |
| Died | March 19, 1856 (aged 33) Palatka, Florida |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Mother | Elizabeth Norris |
| Father | Stephen McHugh |
| Profession | lawyer |
Biography
Thomas McHugh was born in County Leitrim, Ireland, to Elizabeth Norris and the Reverend Stephen McHugh. His father was an Episcopal minister.[1] He studied law at Utica, New York, and moved with his parents to Delavan, in the Wisconsin Territory, in 1844, where his father established an Episcopal parish.[2]
In 1847, McHugh was chosen as Secretary to the Wisconsin Territorial Council, and, in 1848, was Secretary for the second Wisconsin Constitutional Convention. In May 1848, he was elected the first Secretary of State of Wisconsin. He was admitted to the State Bar of Wisconsin in 1849. He later served as Chief Clerk to the Wisconsin State Assembly in the 1853 and 1854 sessions.[2]
He died, unmarried, in Palatka, Florida, March 19, 1856.[2]
References
- Atwood, David; Tenney, H.A., eds. (1880). Memorial Record of the Fathers of Wisconsin. David Atwood. pp. 275, 276. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- History of Walworth County, Wisconsin. Western Historical Company. 1882. pp. 510, 679. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- Anderson, William J. (1929). Anderson, William A. (ed.). The Wisconsin blue book, 1929. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Company. p. 144. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
- Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (2007). "Chapter 8: Statistical Information on Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007–2008 (PDF). Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 721. ISBN 978-0-9752820-2-1. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Catlin as Secretary of Wisconsin Territory |
Secretary of State of Wisconsin 1848–1850 |
Succeeded by William Barstow |
