Thomas De Lage Sumter

Thomas De Lage Sumter
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 8th district
In office March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	John Peter Richardson II
Succeeded by	District eliminated
Personal details
Born	November 14, 1809 Germantown, Philadelphia
Died	July 2, 1874 (aged 64) Stateburg, South Carolina
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	United States Military Academy
Profession	surveyor, planter
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Rank	colonel
Battles/wars	Second Seminole War

Thomas De Lage Sumter (November 14, 1809 – July 2, 1874) was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, grandson of Revolutionary War General Thomas Sumter. His parents were Thomas Sumter Jr., Ambassador to Brazil, and Natalie De Lage de Volude, adoptive daughter of Vice President Aaron Burr.

Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, Sumter attended the common schools at Edgehill, near Stateburg, South Carolina.

He was graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 1835 and entered the United States Army as first lieutenant the same year, serving until 1841 and attaining the rank of colonel. He was engaged in the war against the Seminole Indians.

Later, he moved to Stateburg.

Sumter was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Congresses, serving from March 4, 1839, to March 3, 1843. Serving in South Carolina's 8th congressional district, he was the last individual to hold that seat, which was eliminated in 1843 as a result of the 1840 census.

He engaged in teaching, surveying and agricultural pursuits. He was also connected to the fledgling South Carolina Railroad Company as an agent.

Sumter died on his plantation, "South Mount," near Stateburg, on July 2, 1874, and was interred in the private burial ground on his estate.

Sources

• Thomas De Lage Sumter at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress