Thomas Reynolds (governor)
| Thomas Reynolds | |
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Thomas Reynolds as he appeared while Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court.
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| 7th Governor of Missouri | |
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In office November 16, 1840 – February 9, 1844 |
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| Lieutenant | Meredith M. Marmaduke |
| Preceded by | Lilburn Boggs |
| Succeeded by | Meredith M. Marmaduke |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives | |
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In office 1826-1828 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 12, 1796 Bracken County, Kentucky, United States |
| Died | February 9, 1844 (aged 47) Jefferson City, Missouri |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery, Jefferson City Missouri |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Eliza Ann (Young) Reynolds |
| Children | One son; Ambrose Dudley Reynolds (b. 1824) |
| Profession | Attorney |
Thomas Reynolds (March 12, 1796 – February 9, 1844) was the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court as well as the seventh Governor of Missouri. A Democrat, he is notable for being one of the few American politicians to die by suicide while in office.
Thomas Reynolds was born in Bracken County, Kentucky to Nathaniel and Catherine (Vernon) Reynolds. He received his basic education and education in Law while in Kentucky and was admitted to the state Bar in 1817. Thomas Reynolds moved with his family to Illinois in his early twenties, settling in the Springfield area. Despite the same last name, and similar political career paths in Illinois, contrary to other sources John Reynolds is not the brother of Thomas Reynolds. Reynolds married Eliza Ann Young on September 20, 1823 and the couple would have one child, a son, Ambrose Dudley Reynolds, born in 1824.
Reynolds served as Clerk for the Illinois House of Representatives from 1818 until his appointment to the Illinois Supreme Court on August 31, 1822. He remained on the high court until January 19, 1825, and served as the court's chief justice during his entire tenure. He served one term in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1826 to 1828. Failing to be reelected, Reynolds and his family moved to Missouri, settling in the Howard County town of Fayette. Thomas Reynolds established a legal practice in Fayette, and for a time also served as editor of the Boonslick Democrat newspaper. Elected to represent Howard County in the Missouri Legislature in 1832, he was quickly named Speaker of the House. In January, 1837 Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs nominated Reynolds to be the circuit judge for the 2nd judicial district, a position he held until being elected Missouri's seventh governor in 1840.
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