Thomas Theodore Crittenden

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.

Thomas Theodore Crittenden
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
In office March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879
Preceded by	John Finis Philips
Succeeded by	Alfred Morrison Lay
In office March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875
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 (aged 77) Kansas City, Missouri, United States
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
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1862–1864
Rank	Colonel
Unit	Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry Regiment
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Early life and education

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.[1]

Marriage and family

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).

Career

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.[1]

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.[1] In 1880, he helped to found the Missouri Bar Association.[2]

Crittenden was elected Governor of Missouri in the 1880 election.[3] 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, 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.[4]

During his term, Crittenden's administration also collected payment on loans to the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, reduced state debt, established the Missouri State Board of Health and the Missouri State Bureau of Mines and Mine inspection, increased appropriations for education, and started a training school for nurses in St. Louis.[5]

Following his gubernatorial term, Crittenden moved to Kansas City, Missouri and practiced law. From 1893 to 1897, he was the United States consul general in Mexico City, appointed by President Grover Cleveland. Crittenden died in 1909 in Kansas City, Missouri. He was buried there at the Forest Hill Cemetery.[2]

Legacy

• Crittenden achieved some notoriety for offering a reward on a private citizen, with implications that he ordered his death.

Popular media

In the 2007 movie The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Crittenden is portrayed by James Carville.

References

1. "Thomas Theodore Crittenden, 1881–1885". Missouri State Archives. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
2. "C0087 Crittenden, Thomas Theodore (1832–1909), Papers, 1880–1950" (PDF). The State Historical Society of Missouri. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
3. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=263370
4. "Thomas Theodore Crittenden". Historic Missourians. The State Historical Society of Missouri. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
5. "Office of the Governor Thomas Theodore Crittenden, 1881–1885" (PDF). Missouri State Archives. Retrieved December 11, 2013.

External links

United States Congress. "CRITTENDEN, Thomas Theodore (id: C000913)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.