Background
Thomas Staples Martin was born on July 29, 1847 in Scottsville, Virginia. He was the son of John Samuel Martin, a merchant and manufacturer, and Martha Ann (Staples) Martin.
Thomas Staples Martin was born on July 29, 1847 in Scottsville, Virginia. He was the son of John Samuel Martin, a merchant and manufacturer, and Martha Ann (Staples) Martin.
He entered the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington on March 1, 1864, and served for a year in the Confederate army with the famous New Market Corps of cadets. He then attended the University of Virginia from 1865 until 1867.
In 1869 he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law in Albemarle County, Va. Before many years had passed, he had built up a large clientele. His first important political activity came as a Democratic leader during the heated contests of the eighties, when Gen. William Mahone, a "Readjuster, " took advantage of the problems presented by the state debt to make himself a power with the aid of the negro vote. Then in 1893, although he was comparatively unknown, Martin announced his candidacy for the United States Senate. It was the first time he had ever run for public office, and many believed that he stood little or no chance of success. His opponent was the popular and magnetic Fitzhugh Lee, nephew of Gen. Robert E. Lee, who had served as major-general of cavalry in the war and had been governor of Virginia. To the surprise of thousands, Martin was elected by the General Assembly. He took his seat in the Senate on March 4, 1895. This was the beginning of a service in that body which lasted without interruption until his death in 1919. Martin was never a fluent or polished speaker, and he made few addresses while in Congress, but those who predicted that he would be a failure in politics found that they had misjudged their man. He soon revealed unusual political astuteness, and shortly after the turn of the century, he came to be regarded as the leader of the Democratic "machine" in Virginia, which leadership he retained for the remainder of his life. At the same time his influence in the Senate increased steadily, and he was majority floor leader for the two years beginning in March 1917. He also served as chairman of the committee on appropriations during the war period, when billions were spent by the government. Martin was what is known as a "business senator. " He was notable for his industry, common sense, and knowledge of men, and for his willingness to go to almost unlimited trouble to accommodate a constituent. He belonged to the school of thought which believes in always "standing by your friends, " and in that ancient Jacksonian principle, "to the victor belong the spoils. " During the last ten years that he was boss of the Democratic "machine" in Virginia he was in alliance with the Anti-Saloon League. This combination was generally unbeatable. Unfortunately, Martin was a conservative, and the state made comparatively little progress under his régime. On the other hand, he rendered conspicuous services to his country during the World War, when as majority floor leader of the Senate and chairman of the appropriations committee he had charge of much of the important war legislation. Warned many times that he was working to excess, he refused to spare himself, and his life is believed to have been shortened as a result.
a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity
His absolute personal honesty is attested by the fact that despite the vast sums which he handled, he died a poor man.
On October 10, 1894, he married Lucy Chambliss Day, of Smithfield, Virginia. They had two children, a daughter and a son.