Historical Rosters Database

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Thomas Blackburn

Roster ID 350
This is a summary. Contact the Archives for additional biographical information.
First Name:Thomas
Middle Name:
Last Name:Blackburn
Suffix:
Affiliation:Class of 1854
Biography & Genealogy:Thomas Blackburn, Class of 1854. Genealogy: Born September 11, 1834, Jefferson Co.(?), West Virginia; Father- Richard Scott Blackburn of "Spring Grove," Clarke County (some records say Jefferson Co.) WV; Mother- Sarah Ann Eleanor (Ellen) Thomas, b. 1811 d. 1898; Paternal grandparents- Thomas S. Blackburn (b. Prince William Co., VA) and Elizabeth Sinclair (b. "Spring Grove,"); Maternal grandparents-John Thomas and Eleanor MacGill (McGill?). VMI Record: Entered VMI July 29, 1851 and died while a cadet. Death: Blackburn was fatally stabbed by a local law student (Charles Burks Christian) on January 15, 1854. A trial was held in Lexington, resulting in a hung jury; a retrial held in Bedford resulted in an acquittal. Christian died in 1916.

About the Database

The database currently includes the names of all enrolled students (both graduates and non-graduates) from VMI's opening in 1839 through the World War II era. In addition, you will find biographical and genealogical information, including a summary of military service during the Civil War, for many individuals who attended in the 19th century. The database also includes some historical Faculty and Board of Visitors members, as well as U. S. Army students sent to VMI for training during World Wars I and II. The latter groups were not VMI cadets. For further information about an ancestor listed in the database, please contact the VMI Archives. We can check the complete record, let you know if other information available, and provide copies of original documents. This database is for historical research. We do not release information about living individuals.

VMI Archives
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA 24450
archives@vmi.edu
540-464-7516