THOMAS, Francis, governor of Maryland, born in Frederick county, Maryland, 3 February, 1799; died near Frankville, Maryland, 22 January, 1876. He was graduated at St. John's college, Annapolis, studied law. was admitted to the bar in 1820, and began practice in Frankviile. He was a member of the state house of representatives in 1822, 1827, and 1829, being speaker the last year, was elected to five consecutive congresses, serving from 5 December, 1831, till 3 March, 1841, was president of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal company in 1839-'40, and governor of Maryland in 1841-'4. During his canvass for the governorship he fought a duel with William Price. He was a member of the State constitutional convention in 1850, and was instrumental in haying a measure adopted that weakened the power of the slave-holding counties. He was again in congress from 1861 till 1869. During the civil war Mr. Thomas supported the Union cause, raised a volunteer brigade of 3,000 men, but he refused a command. He was a delegate to the Loyalist convention of 1866, and subsequently opposed President Johnson. He was appointed collector of internal revenue for the Cumberland district, and served from April, 1870, till he was appointed minister to Peru, 25 March, 1872. He held this post till 9 July, 1875, and afterward retired to his farm near Frankland, where he was killed by a locomotive while walking on the railroad-track.