Biography

03/30/1790 - 03/28/1855

CUNNINGHAM, Thomas Scott, a Representative from Mercer County; born, March 30, 1790 in Washington County, Pa.; graduated, Washington College (now Washington & Jefferson College), 1811; lieutenant, “U.S.S. Louisianna,” United States Navy (War of 1812); lawyer (1813-1844); unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1822); elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Federalist for the 1825-1826 and 1826-1827 terms; reelected to the House as a Democrat for the 1827-1828 and 1828-1829 terms; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate (1829-1837); elected, Speaker of the Senate (1835); elected. president, Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention (1837-1838); reelected to the House as a Whig for the 1838-1839 term; postmaster, United States Postal Service, Mercer (1844-1845); appointed, associate judge, Mercer County (1849-1854); died, March 28, 1855 in Mercer, Mercer County, Pennsylvania.