Thomas Newton was an American congressman from Virginia.
Background
Thomas Newton was born on November 21, 1768 in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. He was the son of Thomas and Martha (Tucker) Newton and the descendant of George Newton who was living in lower Norfolk County as early as 1670. His great-grandfather was educated in England and was the first mayor of Norfolk chosen by the council under the charter, and his father was a colonel of militia and a member of the House of Burgesses and of the committee of safety.
Education
The boy was educated at the College of William and Mary and studied law privately in Norfolk.
Career
From 1796 to 1799 Newton served in the Virginia House of Delegates. He was elected to Congress as a Republican. Taking his seat on December 7, 1801, he was placed on the committee of commerce and manufactures. During the impeachment trial of John Pickering, federal judge for the district of New Hampshire, in 1804 he was one of the managers chosen by the House of Representatives.
In 1818 he was made chairman of the committee on commerce and manufactures and his activity on the floor of Congress ceased. The few speeches he made were on technical subjects. He presented his credentials to the Twenty-first Congress, but the election was contested, and after serving one year of the term he relinquished the seat to George Loyall on March 9, 1830. In the next election he was clearly the victor.
At the expiration of this term he retired. He returned to Norfolk, resumed his law practice, and acted as recorder of the hustings court.
In state politics he was active as member of the committee to frame a Republican ticket and to choose electors. Both he and his father were in constant correspondence with the various governors of Virginia on such needs of the Tidewater district as new docks for Norfolk harbor and the draining of the Dismal Swamp.
Achievements
Politics
In Congress Newton acted in the interests of the seacoast commercial classes. The commercial dispute with Great Britain, brought to a head by the Chesapeake affair, caused him to take a bellicose stand. He advocated arming the militia, building a navy, and going to war with Great Britain. In speeches and resolutions in Congress and in letters to the governor he urged adequate defenses for Norfolk. The best defense, he said, would be a large navy rather than coastal forts. Such measures as the Embargo would have lasting effect, since it would force Europe to recognize the value of American commerce and would place a premium on American friendship.
Views
He attributed to Great Britain the cause of the commercial distress of the East and characterized her as an "insidious foe, who never gave notice when about to strike a blow".
Personality
A quiet, kind, and unostentatious person, Newton was regarded as Norfolk's leading citizen. His speeches were short and were adorned with statistics and Latin quotations. Always ready to protect and advance the economic interests of his city, he clothed his utterances with a fine patriotic sentiment.
Connections
Newton was twice married. His first wife was Mrs. Myers, a widow of Barbados, who bore him one daughter. His second wife was Margaret (Jordan) Pool, the widow of Howard Pool. They had nine children, among them John Newton.