Sample Chapter
Indiana’s Governors – Book 1
Chapter title – Thomas Posey
Thomas Posey (July 9, 1750 – March 19, 1818)
The details of Thomas Posey’s parentage are uncertain. Historians know that he was native to a farm on the banks of the Potomac River near Mount Vernon. Rumors persist that he was the illegitimate son of George Washington, however no one has ever been able to either prove or disprove it. We know little of his early childhood except that Thomas enjoyed George Washington’s patronage as a child.
Education and Early Adulthood
His education was that of a typical pioneer child. His formal education, as such, was limited. At nineteen, he enlisted in the Virginia militia where he fought against the native tribes. When the Revolutionary War broke out, Posey enlisted in the Continental Army. His service included Valley Forge, the Battle of Monmouth, and siege of Yorktown.
After the War
Posey returned to Virginia after resigning from the army. He ran unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in 1797 and reentered the Army as a Brigadier general. Disturbed by suspected malfeasance by General James Wilkinson, Posey resigned in 1794. As a reward for his military service, the United States Government awarded him 7000 acres of land. He chose land near Henderson, Kentucky and promptly gained election to the Kentucky State Senate in 1804. He ran for governor of Kentucky in 1808 but withdrew to support another candidate. He rejoined the army and successfully organized a 100,000-militia force gathered in preparation for a possible war with the French and British. He resigned his commission once again to move to Louisiana. The Louisiana governor appointed him to the United States Senate, where he served until 1813. During his term, he assisted the Acting Secretary of War.
New Governor of Indiana Territory
In February 1813 President James Madison appointed him as governor of the Indiana Territory. During the interim between Harrison’s resignation and Posey taking the helm, the Territorial Assembly approved the move from Vincennes to Corydon. They also passed several pieces of legislation that Harrison had opposed. The assembly was disappointed with his appointment as he favored slavery, and most members of the assembly opposed it. Posey did not arrive in Corydon until December 1813.
Opposition to Statehood
Posey’s health was deteriorating during these years, and he disliked the small town that now served as Indiana’s capital. He spent most of his term living in Jeffersonville, near the Louisville doctors. The Legislature disapproved of his pro-slavery stance and considered him aristocratic. His opposition to statehood for the Indiana Territory in 1816 did not help him among those that favored it. He felt that the population of the state was still too small to support the taxation necessary to support a state government and favored delaying statehood until the population increased. The achievement of Statehood status for Indiana came with his opposition and most do not consider him instrumental to it in any way. His biggest achievement was the reorganization of the Territory’s courts.
Statehood was achieved during his tenure of Territorial Governor. He ran for governor; however, Jonathan Jennings defeated him.
1816 Indiana Gubernatorial Election
It is possible that Jennings had announced his candidacy for governor at the Constitutional Convention at Corydon in June 1816, however he did not announce officially until July. Posey announced his candidacy on June 29, 1816. The election would take place on August 5, 1816, just five weeks in the future. The candidates did very little campaigning. Jennings had been pro-statehood while Posey had been anti-statehood, which made him unpopular. Posey was also pro-slavery and Jennings anti-slavery. Since Jennings had represented the Indiana Territory in the Congress as a non-voting member, he was well known to Indiana residents.
Election Results
PartyCandidate – Votes – % – ±%
Nonpartisan – Jonathan Jennings – 5,211 – 56.98% – +56.98%
Nonpartisan – Thomas Posey (incumbent) – 3,934 – 43.02% – +43.02%
Total votes – 9,145 – 100.00%
Turnout – 9,145 – 75.50%
Registered electors – 12,112
Indian Agent
After his defeat he received appointment as Indian Agent for Illinois. He successfully negotiated treaties with the Wea, Kickapoo, and Pottawatomie tribes. He ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in Indiana in 1817. He contracted typhus and passed away on March 19, 1818. He is interred at Westwood Cemetery, Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Illinois. Posey County is named for him.
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