The Biographical Dictionary of America/Arnold, Thomas Dickens

ARNOLD, Thomas Dickens, representative, was born in Spottsylvania Co., Va., May 3, 1798. He studied without a teacher and acquired a fair rudimentary education. At the outbreak of the war of 1812 he enlisted, although but fourteen years old, and served until its close. He then studied law, and after his admission to the bar practised at Knoxville, Tenn. In 1830 he was elected a representative to the 22d Congress, and made himself notorious in that body and elsewhere by a very personal speech in which he denounced Senator Houston and Maj. M. A. Heard. The latter, who was present, attacked Mr. Arnold when leaving the capitol in company with over two hundred members, and though armed with a horse-pistol and a cane, both of which he used vigorously. Heard was decidedly worsted in the struggle, and Arnold carried off the horse-pistol as a trophy. General sympathy seemed to be with Mr. Arnold, and he was presented with a sword cane. He was made brigadier-general of the Tennessee militia in 1836, and was a representative in the 27th congress, 1841-'43. He died May 26, 1870.