Thomas Claxton (died 1821) was the Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives from 1795 to 1821. While being Doorkeeper, Claxton was also the "Agent for furnishing the President's House" for both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
Background Thomas Claxton was born in the state of Connecticut in an unknown year. Claxton was a printer by trade and a former officer in the Continental Army. In 1781, Claxton served in the 4th Regiment of the Philadelphia Militia.
He served as Assistant Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives from 1789 to 1789. On December 7, 1795, he was appointed as Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives by the 4th United States Congress. He was reappointed each congressional session until the 16th United States Congress, which he died shortly after.
Under the presidency of John Adams and the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, Claxton served as the "Agent for furnishing the President's House from 1797 to 1809.
According to historian Marie Kimball, Thomas Claxton was "Jefferson's man-Friday in [the] task of furnishing" the executive mansion.Marie Kimball, "The Original Furnishings of the White House," Magazine Antiques 16, no. 1 (1929): 36.
Before Jefferson's second term as president, Claxton worked with Maryland Congressman Joseph Hopper Nicholson to increase the initial appropriations for the President's House by $14,000. Nicholson was an influential Democratic-Republican and an ally of Jefferson.Ferling, John. Adams vs. Jefferson. p. 187. Claxton reported his success to Jefferson and offered himself as the purchasing agent for new assets.Claxton to Nicholson, February 14, 1805, and Claxton to Jefferson, March 1, 1805, Coolidge Collection of Thomas Jefferson Manuscripts, Massachusetts Historical Society. Transcription of the Claxton letter to Jefferson available at Founders Online. As his second term drew to a close, Jefferson praised Claxton for is work in securing pleasure and wrote "I say with pleasure that the integrity, diligence & economy with which you have employed the funds destined to that object, have given me perfect satisfaction."Jefferson to Claxton, February 19, 1809, Thomas Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress. Transcription available at Founders Online.
Thomas Claxton lived in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Hartford, and the District of Columbia throughout his life. He had a son also named Thomas Claxton who served in the United States Navy during the War of 1812.
Thomas Claxton died on December 8, 1821, in Hartford, Connecticut.Some sources state that Claxton died on November 30, 1821. But, the majority state the date as December 8, 1821.
Years served as Doorkeeper Congress (years)Date elected4th (1795–97)December 7, 17955th (1797–99)May 15, 17976th (1799-1801)December 2, 17997th (1801–03)December 7, 18018th (1803–05)October 17, 18039th (1805–07)December 2, 180510th (1807–09)October 27, 180711th (1809–11)May 22, 180912th (1811–13)November 4, 181113th (1813–15)May 24, 181314th (1815–17)December 4, 181515th (1817–19)December 1, 181716th (1819–21)December 6, 1819
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