Thomas Theodore Crittenden | |
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24th Governor of Missouri | |
In office January 10, 1881 – January 12, 1885 |
|
Lieutenant | Robert Alexander Campbell |
Preceded by | John S. Phelps |
Succeeded by | John S. Marmaduke |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 7th district |
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In office March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879 |
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Preceded by | John Finis Philips |
Succeeded by | Alfred Morrison Lay |
In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 |
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Preceded by | Isaac Parker |
Succeeded by | John Finis Philips |
12th Attorney General of Missouri | |
In office 1864–1865 |
|
Governor | Willard Preble Hall |
Preceded by | Aikman Welch |
Succeeded by | Robert Franklin Wingate |
Personal details | |
Born | January 1, 1832 Shelbyville, Kentucky, United States |
Died | May 29, 1909 Kansas City, Missouri, United States |
(aged 77)
Resting place | Forest Hill Cemetery Kansas City, Missouri |
Political party | Democratic |
Relations | John J. Crittenden (uncle) |
Children | Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr. |
Occupation | Politician |
Profession | Attorney |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/branch | United States Army |
Years of service | 1862–1864 |
Rank | Colonel |
Unit | Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry Regiment |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Thomas Theodore Crittenden (January 1, 1832 – May 29, 1909) was a United States colonel during the American Civil War, and a Democratic politician who served as the 24th Governor of Missouri from 1881 to 1885.
Crittenden was born in 1832 in Shelbyville, Kentucky to Henry and Anna Maria Crittenden. He was born into a political family and was the nephew of Kentucky Governor John J. Crittenden. He was educated at Centre College and also studied law with his uncle.
In 1856, Crittenden married Caroline Wheeler "Carrie" Jackson (August 1, 1839 – January 27, 1917) and had several children. His son Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr. was later a mayor of Kansas City, and his son Henry Huston Crittenden (1859-1943) was compiler of The Crittenden Memoirs (1936).
Shortly following Crittenden's marriage, the family moved to Lexington, Missouri, where he started a law practice. During the American Civil War Crittenden was appointed a Colonel in the 7th Missouri State Militia Cavalry, fighting on the Union side. Governor Willard Preble Hall appointed Crittenden to the post of Missouri Attorney General in 1864.
Following his term, Crittenden moved his law practice to Warrensburg, Missouri in partnership with Francis Cockrell. Crittenden was elected to the United States House of Representatives for the 7th Congressional District in 1872 and again in 1876. In 1880, he helped to found the Missouri Bar Association.
Crittenden was elected Governor of Missouri in the 1880 election. As governor, Crittenden wanted to suppress the robberies and violence committed by the James Gang. He authorized a reward of $5,000 (which was paid for by railroad corporations) for the capture of Jesse James and also for his brother Frank, dead or alive, which resulted in Robert Ford killing Jesse in 1882. Following Ford's conviction for the murder, Crittenden pardoned him. On October 5, 1882, Frank James surrendered in Jefferson City.