Thomas Irwin (American politician)

American judge

Thomas Irwin


Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
In office April 14, 1831 – January 4, 1859
Appointed by	Andrew Jackson
Preceded by	William Wilkins
Succeeded by	Wilson McCandless
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 14th district
In office March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831
Preceded by	Andrew Stewart
Succeeded by	Andrew Stewart

Personal details
Born	Thomas Irwin (1785-02-22)February 22, 1785 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died	May 14, 1870(1870-05-14) (aged 85) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Resting place	Allegheny Cemetery Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Political party	Jacksonian Democrat
Education	Franklin & Marshall College read law

Thomas Irwin (February 22, 1785 – May 14, 1870) was a United States representative from Pennsylvania and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Education and career

Born on February 22, 1785, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Irwin attended the common schools, Franklin College (now Franklin & Marshall College) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and read law in 1808. He was editor of the Philadelphia Repository starting in 1804. He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Uniontown, Pennsylvania in 1808, and from 1811 to 1812. He was an Indian agent in Natchitoches, Louisiana from 1808 to 1810, also practicing law at that location. He was deputy attorney general for Fayette County, Pennsylvania from 1812 to 1819. He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from Fayette County from 1824 to 1828.

Congressional service

Irwin was elected as a Jacksonian Democrat from Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 21st United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1829, to March 3, 1831. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1830.

Federal judicial service

Irwin received a recess appointment from President Andrew Jackson on April 14, 1831, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania vacated by Judge William Wilkins. He was nominated to the same position by President Jackson on December 7, 1831. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 21, 1832, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on January 4, 1859, due to his resignation.

Circumstances of his resignation

On January 13, 1859, the United States House of Representatives authorized the United States House Committee on the Judiciary to investigate charges against Irwin. On January 28, 1859, the House discontinued proceedings on the report that Irwin had resigned. At least 3 different attempts were made by Pittsburgh Bar to secure Irwin's impeachment. Irwin had been charged with partiality toward certain lawyers, with holding needless terms of court and with demanding that the United States Marshal for the Western District of Pennsylvania kick-back a portion of his salary and fees to the Judge. Irwin was also detested by the anti-slavery bar of Western Pennsylvania for the maintenance of the constitutionality of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. In the face of almost certain impeachment, Irwin resigned.

Later career and death

Following his resignation from the federal bench, Irwin resumed private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1859 to 1870. He died on May 14, 1870, in Pittsburgh. He was interred in Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh.

References

^ Thomas Irwin at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
^ United States Congress. "Thomas Irwin (id: I000043)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
"Why Judges Resign: Influences on Federal Judicial Service, 1789 to 1992 - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.

Sources

United States Congress. "Thomas Irwin (id: I000043)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Thomas Irwin at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

External links

Thomas Irwin at Find a Grave

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded byAndrew Stewart	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district 1829–1831	Succeeded byAndrew Stewart
Legal offices
Preceded byWilliam Wilkins	Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania 1831–1859	Succeeded byWilson McCandless

v t e Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
At-large	(Multiple seat era, A: Fitzsimons B: F. A. C. Muhlenberg C: P. Muhlenberg D: D. Hiester I E: Wynkoop J. Kittera F: T. Scott A. Gregg G: Hartley H: Clymer Findley I: J. Armstrong J: W. Irvine K: T. Scott L: Smilie M: W. Montgomery I) (3-seat era, A: Albright B: Scofield C: Todd M. Elliott Osborne (2-seat era, A: A. McDowell Huff Sa. Davenport Foerderer B: Lilly Grow) (4-seat era, A: F. Lewis J. R. K. Scott W. Burke B: Morin Crago McLaughlin C: Walters Lafean McLaughlin Walters D: Rupley Garland Crago) Troutman
1st district	Fitzsimons Swanwick Waln W. Jones (3- and 4-seat era, A: Clay Say Seybert W. Milnor Seybert Forrest W. Milnor Forrest B: Ja. Richards W. Anderson T. Smith W. Anderson Hemphill C: Leib J. Porter J. Milnor C. Ingersoll Hopkinson S. Edwards D: Conard J. Williams Sergeant) Breck Wurts Sutherland Paynter C. Brown E. Morris Levin Florence Lehman Randall Freeman Bingham Vare Hazlett Beck Ransley Sacks Gallagher Barrett Gallagher Barrett M. Myers Foglietta B. Brady B. Fitzpatrick
2nd district	F. A. C. Muhlenberg (Multiple seat era, A: F. A. C. Muhlenberg McClenachan Leib W. Milnor R. Brown Rog. Davis W. Darlington I. Darlington W. Darlington Hemphill T. Kittera Hemphill Sergeant Horn Binney J. Ingersoll Sergeant J. Ingersoll B: Conrad W. Milnor J. Roberts Henderson Hahn Pawling Gross J. Harper Toland C: I. Van Horne Pugh J. Ross Rodman) J. Ingersoll Chandler Tyson E. Morris Biddle O'Neill Creely O'Neill Adams J. Reyburn Cook W. Reyburn G. Graham Stokes Beck W. H. Wilson Pratt W. Granahan McGarvey W. Granahan K. Granahan Nix W. Gray Blackwell Fattah D. Evans B. Boyle
3rd district	Jacobs (Multiple seat era, A: Thomas Hemphill Jos. Hiester Lower Joh. Hiester D. Hiester II Rog. Davis Gloninger Crouch Whiteside Hibshman Buchanan B: I. Anderson M. Richards Hyneman Ja. Whitehill Slaymaker Ja. Wallace J. Phillips C: Jo. Whitehill R. Jenkins Lefever) D. Miller Watmough Ash F. Harper Naylor C. Ingersoll Joh. Smith Jo. Campbell C. Brown H. Moore J. Robbins Millward Landy Verree L. Myers Moffet L. Myers Randall Vaux McAleer Halterman McAleer Burk Castor J. Moore Ransley Waldron Fenerty Bradley Ha. Scott Byrne W. J. Green III Lederer Jos. Smith Borski English Dahlkemper Mi. Kelly D. Evans
4th district	D. Hiester I (Multiple seat era, A: Sitgreaves R. Brown Hanna R. Whitehill Glasgow Spangler Hostetter Ja. Mitchell Buchanan W. Heister Davies Je. Brown B: Jo. Richards Chapman P. Muhlenberg I. Van Horne Bard S. Edwards S. Anderson Leiper Potts James C: Wayne Miner J. Evans E. Darlington J. Edwards) C. Ingersoll J. Robbins Witte Broom H. Phillips Millward W. Kelley J. Reyburn Young Foerderer Moon Edmonds Golder Edmonds Daly Sheridan Maloney Chudoff Nix Toll Eilberg Dougherty Kolter Klink M. Hart Altmire Perry Dean
5th district	J. Kittera D. Hiester I Ege Jos. Hiester A. Gregg D. Montgomery G. Smith (2-seat era, A: W. Crawford Boden Findlay B: R. Whitehill Rea W. Maclay Fullerton McCullough McSherry) Markley Sterigere J. K. Mann Ja. Fry Fornance Yost Freedley McNair Cadwalader O. Jones J. Wood W. Davis Thayer C. Taylor Reading C. Taylor Harmer J. Robbins Harmer Morrell Foulkrod Donohoe P. Costello J. Connolly Dorsey Gartner F. Smith Pracht W. J. Green Jr. Sarbacher W. J. Green Jr. W. J. Green III Ware Schulze Clinger Peterson G. Thompson M. Scanlon
6th district	A. Gregg (1- and 2-seat era, A: S. Maclay Hanna J. Stewart J. Kelly W. Crawford Ingham S. Moore Ingham B: R. Brown J. Ross Rogers) Harris I. Green Bucher R. Ramsey M. Morris J. Davis R. Ramsey Jenks Erdman Hornbeck Bridges T. Ross W. Everhart Hickman Stiles Boyer Stiles Acker Biery W. Townsend Ward J. Everhart S. Darlington Robinson T. Butler McCreary Logue Darrow Welsh Rob. Davis Stokes Stack F. Myers McGlinchey Hu. Scott Toll Rhodes Yatron Holden Gerlach R. Costello Houlahan
7th district	Hartley J. Kittera Boude Rea Piper Hyneman Udree Jos. Hiester Udree Worman Udree (2-seat era, A: H. Wilson Krebs Jo. Fry H. King B: Udree Addams H. Muhlenberg) Wagener Westbrook McIlvaine J. C. Dickey Morrison Bridges Bradshaw Chapman Longnecker T. Cooper Stiles Broomall W. Townsend A. Wood I. Evans Godshalk I. Evans Yardley Hallowell Wanger T. Butler Darrow Drew Darrow Hu. Scott Wolfenden Chadwick James Milliken Watkins L. Williams Edgar Weldon Sestak Meehan M. Scanlon Wild
8th district	Findley Hartley J. Stewart Findley Piper A. Ogle Philson Tod (2 seat era, A: Rogers Wolf S. A. Smith B: Ingham Ihrie) H. King Hubley Newhard Stevens H. Muhlenberg J. Jones Keim Schwartz McKenty Ancona Getz Clymer Ermentrout Mutchler Wanger Difenderfer H. Watson T. Butler Wolfenden Gerlach Lichtenwalter Vaughn K. King W. Curtin Biester Kostmayer J. Coyne Kostmayer Greenwood M. Fitzpatrick P. Murphy M. Fitzpatrick B. Fitzpatrick Cartwright
9th district	A. Gregg Smilie Bard Burnside W. P. Maclay Jo. Brown (3 seat era, A: Kremer Ford B: McKean Stephens C: Ellis E. Van Horne Marr L. Dewart) H. Muhlenberg Keim Ritter W. Strong J. Jones I. Hiester A. Roberts Stevens O. Dickey A. Smith Hiestand Brunner Erdman Ermentrout H. Green Cassel Griest H. Watson Frey Gerlach Kinzer Dague Watkins Ware Bu. Shuster Bi. Shuster Meuser
10th district	Bard H. Woods W. Hoge J. Hoge Hamilton W. Hoge Lyle (2-seat era, A: I. Smith W. Wilson Denison B: J. Irwin D. Scott J. Murray Ellis T. Murray) Ja. Mitchell A. King W. Clark Reily Simonton Brodhead M. Dimmick Middleswarth J. Ch. Kunkel Killinger Strouse Cake Killinger Mutchler Bridges Bachman Mutchler Sowden Brosius W. Connell Cassel Howell Dale Nicholls Farr McLane Farr C. Connell Griest Kinzer J. Murphy Scoblick O'Neill Carrigg Prokop W. Scranton McDade Sherwood Carney Marino Perry
11th district	Findley Smilie Lucas S. Smith Lacock Findley Marchand Plumer (2-seat era, A: Ja. Wilson T. Crawford B: Findlay W. Ramsey McCoy) Barnitz Logan Gerry Bidlack Leib C. Butler Brisbin H. Fuller Straub Jam. Campbell W. L. Dewart Jam. Campbell P. Johnson Van Auken Collins Klotz Storm Buckalew J. Scranton Amerman J. Scranton W. Connell H. Palmer Lenahan H. Palmer Bowman Joh. Casey Templeton Joh. Casey C. Coughlin Watres P. Boland V. Boland J. Murphy Flood M. Jenkins Flood Musto Nelligan Harrison Kanjorski Barletta Smucker
12th district	Gallatin W. Hoge Lyle Patterson Jo. Brown Jo. Mitchell J. Scott R. Allison Chambers Sheffer J. Cooper Read G. Fuller Wilmot Grow H. Wright H. Fuller J. Montgomery Leidy G. Scranton H. Wright Denison Woodward Shoemaker Ketcham Stanton H. Wright J. Scranton D. Connolly J. Scranton Lynch Osborne Shonk Hines Leisenring M. Williams St. Davenport H. Palmer Patterson C. Brumm Garner R. Lee Heaton Reber Joh. Casey Carpenter Joh. Casey Turpin Flannery T. Miller Fenton Whalley Saylor Murtha Critz Rothfus Marino Keller S. Lee
13th district	Griffin Tarr A. Stewart Sr. Tod Thomson C. Forward Burd J. Miller J. Black McClure W. S. Ramsey McClure Gustine Frick Pollock Jos. Casey Gamble Packer W. Dimmick P. Johnson Tracy Mercur Bunnell Strawbridge Ja. Reilly Ryon C. Brumm Ja. Reilly C. Brumm Ryan Patterson Kline Rothermel Dewalt Gernerd G. Brumm C. Palmer G. Brumm Gildea Fenton Hoch F. A. Muhlenberg Rhodes McConnell Lafore Schweiker L. Coughlin Margolies-Mezvinsky Fox Hoeffel Schwartz B. Boyle Joyce
14th district	Tannehill J. Woods Baldwin W. Forward A. Stewart Sr. T. Irwin Potter McCulloch J. Irvin A. Ramsey G. Eckert Pitman Bibighaus Grow W. Miller G. Miller Packer Killinger Barr Bound Rife Woomer Olmsted C. Wright Lilley Pratt Kipp Ainey McFadden Croll Esterly Bushong Esterly Lichtenwalner Richardson Moser Hoch Gillette Carrigg Rhodes Moorhead W. Coyne Doyle Reschenthaler
15th district	T. Wilson R. Moore P. Farrelly Patterson J. Lawrence McCreery McKennan Beaumont Petrikin Bidlack Nes McClean Nes Danner W. Kurtz Gamble Pearce All. White Hale J. Bailey Glossbrenner Haldeman Magee Powell Overton Jadwin Post Bunnell M. Wright Jorden Codding C. Wright Deemer W. B. Wilson Kiess McFadden Dietrich Rutherford Gillette Rich Bush Walter Rooney Ritter McHale Toomey C. Dent Wild G. Thompson
16th district	(2-seat era, A: Ja. Allison Orr H. Denny B: W. Forward Stevenson J. Gilmore) Anthony Hammond J. Snyder J. Black Brady McLanahan W. Kurtz Todd Ahl Junkin J. Bailey Coffroth Koontz Meyers Cessna S. Ross Jo. I. Mitchell R. J. C. Walker W. Brown McCormick A. Hopkins Leonard Packer Deemer Dickerman Samuel McHenry Lesher Kline Kiess Rich T. Scanlon McConnell J. Cr. Kunkel Eshleman B. Walker Pitts Smucker Mi. Kelly
17th district	Plumer Coulter Laporte S. Morris Dimock Read J. Irvin Blanchard Calvin Parker S. Russell Robison W. Reilly McPherson McAllister Barker Morrell R. Speer Jo. Reilly Jac. Campbell Coffroth Jac. Campbell Scull Buckalew Wolverton Kulp Polk Billmeyer Mahon Focht Dershem Focht Cummings Magrady Ditter McConnell Simpson Bush Schneebeli Ertel Gekas Holden Cartwright Lamb Deluzio
18th district	P. Farrelly Barlow Sill Banks Burd J. Mann C. Ogle H. Black J. Russell A. Stewart Sr. A. Ogle Dawson McCulloch Edie Blair Hale S. Wilson W. Armstrong Sherwood S. Ross Stenger Fisher L. Atkinson Mahon Olmsted Kreider Beers Biddle Focht Simpson J. Cr. Kunkel Mumma Simpson D. Elliott Whalley Corbett Heinz Walgren Santorum Doyle T. Murphy Lamb Doyle
19th district	Coulter Klingensmith Marchand Foster J. Mann Kuhns Drum Covode Scofield Curtis Maish Beltzhoover Duncan Swope Maish Beltzhoover Stahle Benner Ziegler R. Lewis A. Evans Reynolds Hartman W. Bailey Rose Sites Swartz Doutrich Swope Gavin Stauffer Quigley Stauffer Quigley G. Goodling Craley G. Goodling B. Goodling Platts
20th district	A. Stewart Sr. Buchanan Hook Beeson J. Dickey Ewing J. Dickey R. Reed Jo. Allison Dawson Knight W. Montgomery II Lazear A. Myers Culver Finney Pettis Gilfillan Griffith Richmond Mackey Yocum A. Curtin J. Patton Scull Hicks Thropp A. Evans Lafean Brodbeck Beales Brodbeck E. Brooks Wertz Walters Leech Stull T. Cochran Driscoll Jarrett Gavin Walter Van Zandt Holland Gaydos A. Murphy Mascara
21st district	McKennan Leet J. Lawrence McKennan Wilkins Darragh Hampton T. Howe Ritchie Moorhead Dawson Covode Foster A. Taylor Turney Wise C. Boyle McCullogh S. Craig Huff Heiner E. Robbins S. Jack Dresser Barclay C. Patton Rowland E. Jones J. Kurtz Walter Gross Lind A. Kelley Dent D. Bailey Ridge English
22nd district	H. Denny Biddle Brackenridge W. Irwin Hays Garvin J. Farrelly J. Howe T. Howe Purviance McKnight Moorhead Negley J. Hopkins Errett J. Hopkins Negley Dalzell Huff C. Gregg Kiester E. Robbins Jo. Wilson Wyant Glatfelter Menges Haines Gross Haines Gross Brumbaugh Van Zandt Saylor Morgan A. Murphy
23rd district	S. Harrison Beatty W. Jack C. Reed Ja. Thompson Curtis Trout Jo. Allison W. Stewart Jo. Wallace T. Williams Phelps McJunkin Jo. Thompson A. Cochran Bayne W. Stone W. Graham A. Cooper Crago Carr Hopwood Sterling Kendall Swoope Chase J. Kurtz Gingery Van Zandt Brumbaugh J. B. Snyder Hoffman Crow Cavalcante Sittler Gavin A. Johnson Ammerman Clinger
24th district	Banks Pearson Henry Buffington A. Irvin A. Gilmore Curtis Barclay Gillis C. Hall J. Patton Lazear G. Lawrence Donley McClelland W. Moore Jo. Wallace Shallenberger G. Lawrence Jackson Ray A. Stewart Jr. A. Craig Sipe Acheson Tener Matthews Temple Kendall J. B. Snyder Morgan Kearns Weaver Vigorito Marks
25th district	Galbraith Plumer Galbraith Plumer J. Dick Babbitt Jenks H. White Mosgrove J. D. Patton Ale. White Maffett C. Townsend Gillespie T. Phillips Sr. Showalter Bates Shreve Liebel H. Clark Temple Faddis Furlong L. Graham F. Clark G. Myers E. Atkinson
26th district	Sheakley Jo. Thompson S. Dick Fleeger N. Hall Culbertson Griswold Sibley Griswold Sturtevant Gaston Bates Shull Schneebeli Brodhead A. Palmer Steele Kirkpatrick T. Phillips Jr. Swick C. Eckert L. Graham Tibbott Coffey Saylor Morgan
27th district	Egbert L. Watson Osmer L. Watson Brainerd W. Scott L. Watson C. Stone Sibley W. Smith Beale Langham North N. Strong J. Gray Tibbott A. Kelley Fulton Conover
28th district	Kerr Kribbs Arnold J. Hall Sibley Wheeler P. Speer Hulings S. Miller Bleakley Beshlin Hulings Bixler T. Cochran Berlin Allen A. Kelley Rodgers Kearns Eberharter Moorhead
29th district	Shiras W. Graham S. Porter Shreve Crosby Rodgers H. Campbell J. McDowell H. Davenport H. D. Denny Corbett
30th district	Dalzell Me. Kelly Coleman Me. Kelly Kent Coyle Kent Coyle J. Brooks De Muth Corbett T. Scanlon Weiss Corbett V. Buchanan Holland
31st district	H. Porter J. Burke Morin Wyant Me. Kelly Quinn J. McDowell Weiss Eberharter Fulton
32nd district	Ja. Brown Barchfeld G. Campbell S. Porter Erk Muldowney Moritz Eberharter J. Wright Eberharter
33rd district	Me. Kelly Ellenbogen McArdle Holland Weiss F. Buchanan V. Buchanan
34th district	Morin Sullivan Dunn J. Wright
35th district	J. M. Magee Estep
36th district	G. Campbell

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