Thomas H. Ford

{{short description|American politician}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name=Thomas H. Ford

|image=Thomas H. Ford.png

|order=3rd

|office=Lieutenant Governor of Ohio

|term_start=January 14, 1856

|term_end=January 11, 1858

|governor=Salmon P. Chase

|preceded=James Myers

|succeeded=Martin Welker

| birth_date = {{birth date|1814|8|23}}

| birth_place = Rockingham County, Virginia

| death_date = {{death date and age|1868|2|29|1814|8|23}}

| death_place = Washington, D.C.

| restingplace=Mansfield Cemetery, Mansfield, Ohio

| party= Republican

| spouse=

| children =

| religion=

|alma_mater =

|signature=

}}

Thomas H. Ford (August 23, 1814 – February 29, 1868) was an American Republican politician who served as the third lieutenant governor of Ohio from 1856 to 1858.{{cite web |title=Lieutenant Governors Of The State Of Ohio: 1852 - Present |url=http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/Research/electResultsMain/HistoricalElectionComparisons/Lieutenant%20Governors%20of%20the%20State%20of%20Ohio%201852%20-%20present.aspx |publisher=Ohio Secretary of State | access-date=2012-01-24}}

Ford was born August 23, 1814, at Rockingham County, Virginia. He had little formal education and his occupation was a farmer. He studied law and was admitted to the bar.Smith 1898 : 44 He moved to Mansfield, Ohio,{{cite book |title=A Centennial biographical history of Richland County, Ohio |editor1-first=A. J. |editor1-last=Baughman |year=1901 |page=[https://archive.org/details/centennialbiogra00baug/page/75 75] | publisher=Lewis Publishing Company |location=Chicago |url=https://archive.org/details/centennialbiogra00baug}} and became an anti-slavery leader. After delivering a speech at Philadelphia espousing the Republican party, he was offered the nomination for lieutenant governor in 1855, and won election to a single term.1855 election Ford 169,408 Democrat James Myers 134,385 from Smith 1898 : 40 In 1860, he was chosen Government Printer by the United States House of Representatives. He served in the Mexican War, and was Colonel of the 32nd Ohio Infantry, Ohio Volunteer Militia during the U.S. Civil War. Ford was arrested in 1862, and sent to Washington, D.C., for trial by a military commission. He was charged with having neglected his duty in the defense of Maryland Heights at the Battle of Harpers Ferry, September, 1862. After trial, Ford was ordered dismissed from the service on November 8, 1862, by order of the War Department.Reid 1895 : 214 He located in Washington, D.C., where he had a lucrative law practice, and where he died February 29, 1868.

He was buried in Mansfield Cemetery.