Thomas Drummond

Who was Thomas Drummond?

Thomas Drummond, was a United States federal judge.

Born in Bristol Mills, Maine, Drummond graduated from Bowdoin College in 1830, and read law to enter the Bar in Philadelphia in 1833. He had a private practice in Galena, Illinois, from 1835 to 1850. In addition to practicing law, he served as a member of the Illinois General Assembly from 1840-1841 as a Whig; during this time he became acquainted with fellow Whig Assemblyman Abraham Lincoln. Drummond served as a judge for the Circuit Court of Illinois from about 1841 to about 1850.

On January 31, 1850, President Zachary Taylor, a Whig like Drummond, nominated Drummond to the United States District Court for the District of Illinois; he replaced Nathaniel Pope, who had died recently. Drummond was confirmed by the United States Senate, and received his commission, on February 19, 1850.

On February 13, 1855, Illinois was subdivided into two judicial districts, with one judge assigned to each district; Drummond was assigned to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, which sat in Chicago.