Thomas H. Blake

Template:Short description Thomas Holdsworth Blake (June 14, 1792 – November 28, 1849) was an American politician who served as a United States Representative from Indiana from 1827 to 1829.

Biography

Born in Calvert County, Maryland, Blake attended the public schools, and studied law in Washington, D.C.

War of 1812

During his time in Washington, he served as a member of the militia of the District of Columbia which took part in the Battle of Bladensburg in 1814, during the War of 1812.

Early career

He later moved to Kentucky and then Indiana. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Terre Haute, Indiana; he served as prosecuting attorney and judge of the circuit court, serving as the US Attorney for the District of Indiana from 1817 to 1818. He was also a businessman who served in the Indiana House of Representatives.

Congress

Blake was elected as a National Republican to the 20th United States Congress, sitting from March 4, 1827 to March 3, 1829; he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1828 to the Twenty-first Congress.

Later career

On May 19, 1842, President Tyler appointed him as Commissioner of the General Land Office; he served until April 1845.

In later years, he was a resident trustee of the Wabash & Erie Canal, and he also visited England as a financial agent of the state of Indiana.

Death and burial

While returning from that trip, he died in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 28, 1849, and was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery, in Terre Haute.

Electoral history

General election 1826

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Thomas H. Blake		43.0
		Ratliff Boon		42.8
		Lawrence S. Shuler		14.2

General election 1828

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
		Ratliff Boon		52.2
		Thomas H. Blake		47.8