Thomas Kirker was the second Governor of Ohio who took over after Edward Tiffin left office before his term was up.
His time as Governor was short. However, he was an influential person in early Ohio politics.
Thomas Kirker Biography
Like his predecessor, Thomas Kirker was not born in the colonies but across the Atlantic in Ireland.
His family migrated to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1779, which was during the Revolutionary War when much of the focus had shifted to the Southern Colonies.
Eleven years after arriving in America, Thomas married Sarah Smith. After the two married, they moved to the frontier and settled with his wife in Kentucky. This was short-lived, as the couple moved to Adams County, Ohio, three years later.
Political Career
Kirker was elected as a delegate to the Ohio Constitutional Convention in 1802. At this time, Ohio was part of the Northwest Territory and had been under a Military Governor.
The population had reached the point of statehood and was now ready to put it to a vote.
In 1803, he won election to the Ohio House of Representatives, and then in 1803, he won election into the Ohio State Senate. Here he would serve from 1803 to 1815.
Governor Edward Tiffin was elected to the United States Senate in 1807. At this point, Thomas Kirker, Speaker of the Senate, stepped in as Governor. His time as Governor would be extended after the disqualification of Return J. Meigs, who had won the Governor's election but was found unsuitable based on the residency requirements.
Thomas Kirker ran for re-election as the Governor and lost. Ohio History Central gives a good explanation as to why:
In 1808, Kirker ran against fellow Democratic-Republicans Thomas Worthington and Samuel Huntington for the governorship. Both Kirker and Worthington held similar political beliefs, arguing that the state legislature was supreme in creating law, while Huntington believed that ultimate authority to determine the constitutionality of law rested with the Ohio Supreme Court. Kirker and Worthington split the vote among those sharing their view, allowing Huntington to gain the majority and become the state's next governor.
He would again serve in the House of Representatives from 1816-1817 until winning election again to the State Senate in 1821 until 1825.
In the election of 1824, he would serve as a Presidential elector in 1824 for Henry Clay.
Kirker retired from politics and returned to his home at his Liberty Township farm.
He died on February 19, 1837. Upon his death, he was buried in a family burial plot on the farm.
Impact in Ohio
Thomas Kirker had a large impact in Ohio.
He was originally part of the Democratic-Republican party until he migrated over to the Whig party. he had relationships with such men as William Henry Harrison, Edward Tiffin, Thomas Worthington, and many others.
He was also a leading figure in his community as he was a lifelong Presbyterian and known as a man dedicated to his faith. He received a large funeral upon his death.
