Thomas Griffin (politician)
Thomas Griffin was an eighteenth and nineteenth century politician, lawyer and judge from Virginia.Biography
Born in Yorktown, Virginia, Griffin pursued classical studies before studying law. After being admitted to the bar, Griffin practiced law as well as engaging in agricultural pursuits. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1793 to 1800 and was appointed a justice of the court of oyer and terminer on October 17, 1796, serving until 1810. Griffin was elected a Federalist to the United States House of Representatives in 1802, serving from 1803 to 1805. He was then appointed chief justice of the Court of Quarter Sessions in Yorktown on September 1, 1805, serving until 1810 when he became a justice of the York County Court, serving as this until 1812. Griffin served as a major of Infantry during the War of 1812. After the war, Griffin again became a justice of the court of oyer and terminer, this time as chairman of the court, serving from 1814 to 1820. He then became a member of the Virginia House of Delegates again, serving from 1819 to 1823 and 1827 to 1830. Griffin died at "The Mansion" near Yorktown, Virginia on October 7, 1837.
