Thomas Hart Ruffin

Thomas Hart Ruffin ( born September 9, 1820 Louisburg, Franklin County (formerly part of Edgecombe County), North Carolina, † October 13, 1863 in Alexandria, Virginia ) was an American politician (Democratic Party).

Ruffin visited community schools and then graduated in 1841 from the University of North Carolina Law School at Chapel Hill. After qualifying as a lawyer, he then opened his own practice. Later, he was from 1844 to 1848 as a district attorney working for seven judicial districts of the State of Missouri. Ruffin decided in 1852 to pursue a political career by running for a seat in the 33rd U.S. Congress. He won the election, was re-elected three times and served as of March 4, 1853 to March 3, 1861 U.S. House of Representatives.

After the secession of his home state in 1861, he represented this in July of the same year as a delegate to the Provisional Konföderiertenkongress in Richmond. He also served during the American Civil War in the Confederate Army with the rank of colonel of the 1st North Carolina Cavalry. He was mortally wounded on October 13, 1863 in a cavalry battle before the Battle of Bristoe Station and then died a prisoner of war in Alexandria. His final resting he was on a private cemetery in his hometown near Louisburg.