The New International Encyclopædia/Clingman, Thomas Lanier

CLING′MAN, Thomas Lanier (1812-97). An American politician and soldier, born at Huntsville, N. C. He graduated at the University of North Carolina in 1832, and was elected to the State Legislature. From 1843 to 1858, with the exception of one term, he was a Whig member of Congress, where he became known as a brilliant debater. In 1858 he was selected by the Governor of his State to fill a vacancy existing in the United States Senate, whence, in 1861, he withdrew to become a colonel in the Confederate Army. He was promoted to be brigadier-general, served throughout the war, and in 1868 was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention. The existence in North Carolina of diamonds, rubies, corundum, platinum, and mica was first made known by him. He published Follies of the Positive Philosophers (1878) and a volume of speeches (1878).