Thomas Kittera

Summary

Thomas Kittera (March 21, 1789 – June 16, 1839) was an American politician who served as a National Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district from 1826 to 1827.

Thomas Kittera
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 2nd district
In office
October 10, 1826 – March 3, 1827
Preceded byJoseph Hemphill
Succeeded byJohn Sergeant
Personal details
Born(1789-03-21)March 21, 1789
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJune 16, 1839(1839-06-16) (aged 50)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting placeMount Moriah Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyNational Republican
ParentJohn Kittera
Alma materUniversity of Pennsylvania

Early life and education edit

 
Thomas Kittera grave at Mount Moriah Cemetery

Kittera was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on March 21, 1789.[1] He moved to Philadelphia in 1801 with his father, John Wilkes Kittera.[2] He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia in 1805. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1808 and commenced practice in Philadelphia.[1]

Career edit

He served as deputy attorney general of Pennsylvania from 1817 to 1818 and deputy attorney general of Philadelphia from 1824 to 1826. He was a member of the select council and its president from 1824 to 1825.

Kittera was elected as an National Republican Party candidate to the Nineteenth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Joseph Hemphill. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Twentieth Congress.[1]

Kittera was a senior member of the Masonic Order and served as Right Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania from 1826 to 1828.[3]

He died in Philadelphia on June 16, 1839. He was interred in St. Paul’s Protestant Episcopal Church Cemetery and reinterred to Mount Moriah Cemetery in 1870.[4]

Legacy edit

A portrait of Kittera painted by Thomas Sully, is displayed at the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia.[5] Thomas is the father-in-law of Philadelphia mayor, Robert Taylor Conrad.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Kittera, Thomas 1789-1839". www.bioguide.congress.gov. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  2. ^ Campbell, John Hugh (1892). History of the Friendly sons of St. Patrick and of the Hibernian Society for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland : March 17, 1771-March 17, 1892. Philadelphia: The Hibernian Society. p. 448. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Past Grand Masters - Portrait Gallery". www.pagrandlodge.org. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Thomas Kittera (1789-1839) - Lawyer, Politician, and Freemason of Philadelphia". www.friendsofmountmoriahcemetery.org. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  5. ^ Journal of the Department of History, Presbyterian Historical Society Vol. II 1903-1904. The Presbyterian Historical Society. 1904. p. 172. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  6. ^ Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "Kirksey to Kitto". www.politicalgraveyard.com. The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district

October 10, 1826 - March 3, 1827
Succeeded by