Thomas Wilson

Thomas Wilson (May 16, 1827 – April 3, 1910) was an Irish-born American lawyer, Minnesota congressman and state legislator, associate justice and the second chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Wilson was born in Dungannon, County Tyrone, Ireland, U.K., and attended the common schools. He immigrated to the United States in 1839 with his parents, who settled in Venango County, Pennsylvania.

Legal & Judicial Career

He graduated from Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, in 1852, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in February 1855 and commenced practice in Winona, Minnesota, becoming a member of the Minnesota Constitutional convention in 1857. He was then judge of the third judicial district court from 1857 – 1864, associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1864, and chief justice from 1865 to July 1869, when he resigned, to resume his career as a lawyer.

Political Career

He was elected as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, serving from 1880 – 1882. He then served in the Minnesota Senate 1882–1885, elected as a Democrat to the Fiftieth Congress (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889). He worked for and had ties to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad and refused to cut ties with his business interests while in office, earning him a reputation as a monopolist.

In 1890, he was the Democratic nominee for governor, however lost the three-way race due to running a conservative campaign at a time when the state was dominated by progressive movements and politics.

Following his defeat, he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1892.