Member Biography

Thomas Erskine Carson 

Seal
Sessions Office Position District Party
1845       18 Whig
1846       18 Whig
1847       18 Whig
1851       11 Whig
1852       11 Whig
1853     Speaker 11 Whig

COUNTIES: Adams, Franklin  


Biography

08/06/1791 - 04/26/1857


Thomas Erskine Carson (Whig18) Adams and Franklin Counties 1845-1847 (Whig11) Adams and Franklin Counties 1851-1853

Early Life:

Thomas Erskine Carson, born, August 6, 1791, Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania; son of David and Jean Oliver Carson; teacher; engaged, hat manufacturing; merchant; married Agnes Craig King, 1808, children, Elliza Jane Carson, William Carson, Washington Carson, Thomas Carson, Emeline Carson, David Carson, Rose Carson; elected, auditor, Franklin County, 1824-1827; elected, magistrate, Mercersburg; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1834-1836; elected Whig, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1843-1844; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1845-1847; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1851-1853, elected, Speaker of the Senate, 1853; died, April 26, 1857 (aged 65), Mercersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania; interment, Fairview Cemetery, Mercersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania Politics: 

Elected, auditor, Franklin County, 1824-1827; Elected, magistrate, Mercersburg.

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1834-1836.

Elected Whig, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1843-1844.

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State Senate, 18th district, Adams and Franklin Counties, 1845-1847; defeated for re-election, fellow Whig William R. Saddler.

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State Senate, 11th district, Adams and Franklin Counties, 1851-1853, chairman, Election Districts Committee, 1851, chairman, Pensions and Gratuities Committee, 1852, elected, Speaker of the Senate, 1853; supported the popular election of judges, stricter regulation of the borough system, the repeal of the Walker Tariff, and federal reprisal against slave kidnappers. 

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Cited:

Cox, Harold "Senate Members "C"Wilkes University Election Statistics ProjectWilkes University.

History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: Warner, Beers & Company, 1887), page 848.

Thomas Carson (1791-1857) - Find a Grave Memorial