Thomas Sappington

Thomas Sappington (c. 1789 – July 18, 1857) was an American politician from Maryland. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates and Maryland Senate.

Early life
Thomas Sappington was born around 1789 in Libertytown, Maryland, to Ann (née Ridgely or Richelieu) and Francis Brown Sappington. His father was a physician in Libertytown and served as a state delegate. His mother was a relative of Cardinal Richelieu. He was educated in schools in Frederick County.

Career
As a young man, Sappington traveled with Mr. Beard to Kentucky to visit his uncle, John Sappington. He settled in Beardstown. While in Kentucky, he served in a cavalry regiment in the War of 1812. He served under William Henry Harrison and was at the Battle of Tippecanoe. After the war, he ran a store in Libertytown with his brother Francis B. for a short time. He also worked as a farmer.

Sappington was first a Whig and later became a Democrat. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Frederick County from 1825 to 1827. He served as a member of the Maryland Senate, representing the Western Shore from 1831 to 1836. He was president and president pro tempore of the senate in 1834. He chaired the 1833 reform convention in Baltimore.

Sappington was appointed as register of wills by Governor Thomas Pratt in 1844 or 1845. He served in that role until 1851. He then was editor of the Frederick Herald for three years. At the time of his death, he was affiliated with the American (Know Nothing) Party.

Personal life
Sappington married Sarah Coale, daughter of Richard Cole and sister of James M. Coale. They had nine sons and two daughters, including James, John, Thomas, Henry, Greenberry R., Sidney, Augustus, William Coale, Francis B., Caroline (or Catherine) and Sarah "Sally" R.  He later married Louisa (Louise) C. Klein, daughter of Charles S. Klein. They had five sons, Richelieu, Richard D., Wentworth, Francis Brown and George. His son Greenberry served in the Maryland senate. His grandson Richard F. Sappington was a state delegate.

Sappington died on July 18, 1857, in Frederick.