Thomas J. Clunie
Thomas J. Clunie | |
|---|---|
Portrait by C. M. Bell c. 1889–1890 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 5th district | |
| In office March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1891 | |
| Preceded by | Charles N. Felton |
| Succeeded by | Eugene F. Loud |
| Member of the California Senate from the 27th district | |
| In office January 3, 1887 – January 7, 1889 | |
| Preceded by | Belden Goodwin Hurlburt |
| Succeeded by | John E. Hamill |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 18th district | |
| In office December 6, 1875 – December 3, 1877 | |
| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Multi-member district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Jefferson Clunie March 25, 1852 |
| Died | June 30, 1903 (aged 51) |
| Resting place | Sacramento Historic City Cemetery |
| Party | Democratic |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | California National Guard |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands | 4th Brigade |
Thomas Jefferson Clunie (March 25, 1852 – June 30, 1903) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from California from 1889 to 1891.
Early life
Clunie was born in St. John's, Newfoundland on March 25, 1852, while his parents were on a visit there from Massachusetts.[1] He moved with his parents to California in 1854, then to Maine, and then back to California in 1861. He attended public schools in Sacramento, and upon graduation studied law under the tutelage of a Harvard College graduate. He was admitted to the bar in 1868, before the age of majority, under a special act of the legislature.[2] He began his law practice in Sacramento in 1870.[1]
Political career
Clunie served as a member of the California State Assembly from 1875 to 1877, one of three members from a district based in Sacramento County.[3] At just 23 years old, he was the second-youngest member of the Legislature,[4] behind James G. Maguire (who was also later elected to Congress).[5][6] Clunie served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1884. He served in the State Senate from 1887 to 1889. He served in the state militia, commanding the 4th Brigade, National Guard of California, before he retired as brigadier general.[2]
Congress
Clunie was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-first Congress. He served from March 4, 1889 to March 3, 1891. He was unsuccessful running for reelection in 1890 to the Fifty-second Congress. He resumed the practice of his profession.
Death
Clunie died in San Francisco, California, on June 30, 1903.[7] He was interred in the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery.[8]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Thomas J. Clunie | 20,276 | 49.3 | |||
| Republican | Timothy Guy Phelps | 20,225 | 49.2 | |||
| Independent | Henry French | 613 | 1.5 | |||
| Total votes | 41,114 | 100.0 | ||||
| Turnout | ||||||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Eugene F. Loud | 22,871 | 52.8 | |||
| Democratic | Thomas J. Clunie (Incumbent) | 19,899 | 45.9 | |||
| Socialist | E. F. Howe | 574 | 1.3 | |||
| Total votes | 43,344 | 100.0 | ||||
| Turnout | ||||||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||||
References
- ^ a b The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. II. James T. White & Company. 1921. pp. 184–185. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Oscar Tully Shuck, ed. (1901). History of the Bench and Bar of California: Being Biographies of Many. Los Angeles, California: Commercial Printing House. pp. 804–805. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
- ^ "DEMOCRATIC STATE TICKET". The Daily Bee. Sacramento. August 30, 1875. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
- ^ "Thomas J. Clunie". JoinCalifornia. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
- ^ "James G. Maguire". JoinCalifornia. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
- ^ "FROM THE CAPITAL". Oakland Daily Evening Tribune. Oakland. December 10, 1875. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
- ^ "General Thomas J. Clunie Dies in San Francisco". The Sacramento Bee. June 30, 1903. p. 10. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Clunie, Thomas Jefferson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved May 5, 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
External links
This article incorporates public domain material from Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Federal government of the United States.