Background
Thomas M. Pettit was born in Philadelphia on December 26, 1797, the son of merchant Andrew Pettit (son of Charles Pettit) and his wife Elizabeth (McKean) Pettit (daughter of Thomas McKean).
Thomas M. Pettit was born in Philadelphia on December 26, 1797, the son of merchant Andrew Pettit (son of Charles Pettit) and his wife Elizabeth (McKean) Pettit (daughter of Thomas McKean).
University of Pennsylvania.
Pettit entered the College of the University of Pennsylvania in 1812. He received an Bachelor of Arts in 1815 and an Master of Arts in 1818. After graduating from college, Pettit became a lawyer
By 1820, he was City Solicitor of Philadelphia.
From 1824 to 1828, he was Deputy Attorney General to the Supreme and Oyer and Terminer Courts of Philadelphia. In 1832, Pettit became an Associate Judge of the District Court of Philadelphia.
From 1835 to 1845, he was the district"s presiding judge. He resigned from the bench in 1845 when he was appointed United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
President of the United States Martin Van Buren later appointed him to the Board of Visitors of the United States Military Academy.
In 1853, President Franklin Pierce appointed Pettit Director of the United States Mint. Pettit, however, died after only a few weeks in office.
On October 2, 1813, he was one of thirteen founding members of the Philomathean Society. He was elected as a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1830. In 1831, he also served as a member of the Philadelphia City Council.