Thomas Newton Jr.


Thomas Newton Jr. was an American politician who was a U.S. representative from Virginia from 1801 until his retirement in 1833. Union general John Newton was his son.

Biography

Newton was born in Norfolk, Virginia on November 21, 1768, the son of Thomas Newton.
Newton was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1796 to 1799. He served as a Democratic-Republican in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1801, to March 9, 1830, losing his seat when George Loyall contested his election. Newton regained his seat at the next election and served a final term from March 4, 1831, to March 3, 1833. In the bitterly contested 1824 presidential election, Newton was the only Virginia representative to support the Adams-Clay coalition. In 1804, Newton was one of the impeachment managers appointed by the House to prosecute the case for conviction on the articles of impeachment adopted against Judge John Pickering in his impeachment trial.

Electoral history

  • 1823; Newton was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1825; Newton was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1827; Newton was re-elected with 64.28% of the vote, defeating Independent George Loyall.
  • 1829; Newton was re-elected with 50.35% of the vote, but the election was invalidated and Loyall was seated.
  • 1831; Newton was re-elected with 51.01% of the vote, defeating Jacksonian Loyall.