Thomas C. Catchings

Thomas Clendinen Catchings (January 11, 1847 – December 24, 1927) was a U.S. Representative from Mississippi.

Thomas Clendinen Catchings
1893
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1901
Preceded by	Elza Jeffords
Succeeded by	Patrick S. Henry
Mississippi Attorney General
In office 1878-1885
Mississippi State Senate
In office 1875-1877
Personal details
Born	(1847-01-11)January 11, 1847 Brownsville, Mississippi
Died	December 24, 1927(1927-12-24) (aged 80) Vicksburg, Mississippi
Resting place	Cedar Hill Cemetery[1] Vicksburg, Mississippi
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Florence Shearer
Alma mater	University of Mississippi at Oxford
Occupation	Lawyer
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States
Branch/service	Confederate States Army
Rank	Private
Unit	18th Mississippi Infantry, 11th Mississippi Cavalry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Biography

Born near Brownsville, Mississippi, Catchings was tutored at home. He attended the University of Mississippi at Oxford in 1859, where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall, and Oakland College in 1861. He studied law.

He entered the Confederate States Army in 1861 and served as a private in Company K, Eighteenth Mississippi Infantry, and subsequently in Company C, Eleventh Mississippi Cavalry.[2]

He was admitted to the bar in 1866 and commenced practice in Vicksburg.

Catchings was elected to the Mississippi State Senate in 1875 but resigned in 1877.

Catchings was elected Mississippi Attorney General in 1877. He was reelected in 1881 and served until February 16, 1885.

Catchings was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-ninth and to the seven succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1885–March 3, 1901). He served as chairman of the Committee on Levees and Improvements of the Mississippi River (Fiftieth Congress), Committee on Railways and Canals (Fifty-second and Fifty-third Congresses), Committee on Rivers and Harbors (Fifty-third Congress). He first introduced a bill for Vicksburg National Military Park in January 1896. When it failed to pass, although favorably reported by committee, he re-introduced the bill in the next Congress in December 1897.[3]

He resumed the practice of law. He also served as division counsel for the Southern Railway Co.. He served as member of the Mississippi Code Commission by appointment of Governor Vardaman.

He died in Vicksburg, Mississippi, December 24, 1927. He was interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Notes

1. "Thomas Clendinen Catchings". Find A Grave. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
2. Giambrone, Jeff (2012). Remembering Mississippi's Confederates. Arcadia Publishing. p. 94.
3. "The First Battlefield Parks". National Park Service. Retrieved 9 January 2018.

References

• United States Congress. "Thomas C. Catchings (id: C000247)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Legal offices
Preceded by George E. Harris	Attorney General of Mississippi 1878–1885	Succeeded by Thomas S. Ford
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Elza Jeffords	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's 3rd congressional district 1885-1901	Succeeded by Patrick S. Henry