Thomas C. Reynolds

Thomas Caute Reynolds was born in South Carolina in 1821. In 1850 Reynolds was practicing law in Virginia when he decided to move to St. Louis to start a law practice. In 1860 Reynolds ran for and was elected lieutenant governor of Missouri. Reynolds was in favor of Missouri’s secession from the Union. When Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon marched on Jefferson City in June 1861, Reynolds accompanied Governor Claiborne Fox Jackson into exile. After Jackson’s death in December 1862, Reynolds ascended to governor, at least in the eyes of the Confederacy. In 1864, Reynolds lobbied hard for an invasion of Missouri. He got his wish when Sterling Price was ordered to move into that state with 12,000 cavalry. Reynolds wanted to be reinstated as governor in Jefferson City. When the invasion turned out to be a failure, Reynolds placed all of the blame on Sterling Price. At the conclusion of the war, Reynolds went into exile in Mexico. After spending a few years in Mexico City, Reynolds returned to St. Louis in 1869 and resumed his law practice.