Thomas Birch FLORENCE, Congress, PA (1812-1875)

FLORENCE Thomas Birch , a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Philadelphia, Pa., January 26, 1812; attended the public schools; learned the hatter's trade and engaged in that business in 1833; engaged in the newspaper business; unsuccessful Democratic candidate for election in 1846 to the Thirtieth Congress and in 1848 to the Thirty-first Congress; elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-second and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1851-March 3, 1861); after leaving Congress edited and published the Constitutional Union in Washington, D.C., and subsequently became the proprietor of the Sunday Gazette; unsuccessful candidate in his old district for election in 1868 to the Forty-first Congress and in 1874 to the Forty-fourth Congress; died in Washington, D.C., July 3, 1875; interment in Lawnview Cemetery, Rockledge, Pa.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present