Thomas H. Paynter
American politician (1851–1921)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thomas Hanson Paynter (December 9, 1851 – March 8, 1921) was a United States senator and representative from Kentucky.
Thomas Hanson Paynter | |
|---|---|
Paynter, c. 1910 | |
| United States Senator from Kentucky | |
| In office March 4, 1907 – March 4, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | J. C. S. Blackburn |
| Succeeded by | Ollie M. James |
| Justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals | |
| In office January 7, 1895 – August 1, 1906 | |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | John M. Lassing |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 9th district | |
| In office March 4, 1889 – January 5, 1895 | |
| Preceded by | George M. Thomas |
| Succeeded by | Samuel J. Pugh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 9, 1851 |
| Died | March 8, 1921 (aged 69) |
| Resting place | Frankfort Cemetery |
| Party | Democratic |
Early life and education
Born on a farm near Vanceburg, Kentucky, Paynter attended the common schools, Rand's Academy, and Centre College. There he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1872, and commenced practice in Greenup, Kentucky. He served as the prosecuting attorney of Greenup County, Kentucky from 1876 to 1882, and then resumed the practice of law in Greenup.
Career
Paynter was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-first, Fifty-second, and Fifty-third Congresses in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from March 4, 1889, until January 5, 1895. There he served as chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department. He resigned in 1895, having been elected as a justice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, where he served from 1895 to 1906. He resigned from this position as well, having been elected a U.S. Senator in the 1906 United States Senate election in Kentucky.
Paynter served in the Senate from March 4, 1907, to March 3, 1913. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1912. In the Senate he served as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee to Examine Branches of the Civil Service. After his career in politics, he moved to Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1913 to continue the practice of law and follow agricultural pursuits. He died in Frankfort and was interred in the State Cemetery.
References
- United States Congress. "Thomas H. Paynter (id: P000156)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Legislative history and capitol souvenir of Kentucky : portraits and sketches of Senators, Representatives, and officials and attaches of the various state departments. W.E. Bidwell, E.H. Ellwanger. 1910. p. 31. Archived from the original on 2005-03-08. Retrieved 2008-11-28.