William M. M. Thomas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Matthew Merrick Thomas (May 3, 1878 – September 18, 1951) was an American missionary bishop of the diocese which eventually became the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil.[1]
William was born at Mattapany, the historic plantation of colonial Maryland governor Charles Calvert in St. Mary's County, Maryland to former Confederate Captain George Thomas (1836-1903)[2][3] and his wife Ellen Ogle Beall(1842-1909)[citation needed] His mother was the daughter of the late Rev. Upton Beall and greatgranddaughter of former Maryland governor Benjamin Ogle.[4] They met while Capt. Thomas was recovering at a Richmond, Virginia hospital from wounds received at Culp's Hill during the Battle of Gettysburg.[5] The family included at least six children, among them: John H. Thomas (1869-1931), Rev. Upton Beall Thomas (1870-1939), Tazewell Thomas (1872-1942), and Louisa Thomas(1875-1952).[6]
William M.M. Thomas attended the University of Virginia and graduated in 1901. He first graduated from the Virginia Theological Seminary in 1904. The same institution later awarded him a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1911 and a Doctor of Divinity in 1925, the year of his elevation to bishop.