Return to Naval Historical
Center home page.
Return to Online
Library listing
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --
Thomas W. Gilmer (1802-1844) --
15th Secretary of the Navy, 19 February - 28 February 1844
Thomas Walker Gilmer was born on 6 April 1802 in Albemarle
County, Virginia. He studied law and, after a brief residence
in Missouri, practiced that profession in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Gilmer also owned and edited a newspaper in that city and was
politically active. He supported the aspirations of Andrew Jackson
and represented Albemarle County in the Virginia House of Delegates.
In 1834, Gilmer broke with Jackson and joined the Whig party.
He became state Governor in 1840, pursuing a strong states' rights
policy while in office.
Elected to the U.S. Congress in 1841, Gilmer left the Whigs,
returned to the Democratic Party, and emerged as a strong supporter
of President John Tyler. In February 1844, Tyler nominated him
to be Secretary of the Navy. On 28 February 1844, after only nine
days in office, Secretary of the Navy Thomas Gilmer was one of
several dignitaries killed when a cannon exploded on board the
steamer USS Princeton.
USS Gilmer (DD-233, later APD-11), 1920-1946, was named
in honor of Secretary of the Navy Gilmer.
This page features our only images of Thomas W. Gilmer.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 54752-KN (Color)
Thomas W. Gilmer (1802-1844),
Secretary of the Navy, 19 February 1844 - 28 February 1844
Portrait by Annie Bayliss Kent, 1930.
Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 59KB; 580 x 765 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 54751
Thomas Walker Gilmer
Secretary of the Navy, 19 February 1844 - 28 February 1844
19th Century engraving.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 130KB; 515 x 765 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 58906-KN (Color)
"Awful Explosion of the 'Peace-Maker' on board the U.S.
Steam Frigate Princeton, on Wednesday, 28th Feby. 1844"
Colored lithograph, published by N. Currier, New York, 1844.
It depicts the explosion of a heavy gun on board USS Princeton,
in the Potomac River, which killed or mortally wounded seven
and injured about twenty people. Some of those present are identified
below the image, including (from left): Mr. Wilkins; Mr. Perrine;
Lieutenant Hunt; Representative Virgil Maxcy, of Maryland; Secretary
of State Abel P. Upshur; Captain Beverly Kennon, Chief of the
Bureau of Construction, Equipment and Repair; Thomas Gilmer,
Secretary of the Navy; Captain Robert F. Stockton; Sailors; Senator
Phelps and Senator Thomas Hart Benton. Maxcy, Upshur, Kennon
and Gilmer were among those killed. Stockton and Benton were
among the injured.
Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 545 pixels |
 |
Return to Naval
Historical Center home page.
29 May 2000