Thomas Carlin

Who was Thomas Carlin?

Thomas Carlin was the seventh Governor of Illinois, serving from 1838 to 1842. Born in 1789 in Frankfort, Kentucky, Carlin removed from Kentucky to Madison County, Illinois in 1812. He was married at Edwardsville, Illinois in 1814 to Rebecca Huitt. They eventually relocated to Greene County, Illinois in 1819. He laid out the town of Carrollton, and donated a large parcel of land upon which the county seat was constructed. He served as Greene County's first sheriff. he served in both houses of the Illinois General Assembly, and was instrumental in obtaining passage of a bill in January 1829 creating Macoupin County. The city of Carlinville, Illinois is named in his honor. The first two years as Governor were spent in Vandalia, with the remaining two years in Springfield, once the capital was transferred there. Carlin died in 1852 in Carrollton, Illinois. His wife survived him. During their marriage, the Carlins had at least 12 children: Mary Ann, b.1816; Eugene, b. 1817; William H., b. 1818; Nathaniel, b. 1819; Elizabeth, b. 1820; Emily St. Aubert, b. 1821; John Massingill, b. 1829; Julia, b. 1830; Andrew Jackson, b. 1832; John Clark, b. 1832; Eugenia, b. 1839; and Thomas B., b.