Thomas Clarke Theaker

Thomas Clarke Theaker (February 4, 1812 – July 16, 1883) was a U. S. Congressman and commissioner of the United States Patent Office.

Thomas Clarke Theaker
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 17th district
In office March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861
Preceded by	William Lawrence
Succeeded by	James R. Morris
Commissioner of United States Patent Office
In office August 17, 1865 – January 20, 1868
Appointed by	Andrew Johnson
Preceded by	David P. Holloway
Succeeded by	Elisha Foote
Personal details
Born	(1812-02-04)February 4, 1812 York, Pennsylvania
Died	July 16, 1883(1883-07-16) (aged 71) Oakland, Maryland
Resting place	Weeks Cemetery, Bridgeport, Ohio
Political party	Republican

Theaker was a native of York, Pennsylvania, but moved to Bridgeport, Ohio, in 1830, where he became a wheelwright and machinist. Elected as a Republican to represent the Seventeenth Congressional District of Ohio in the Thirty-Sixth Congress, he failed to win re-election in 1860, but was appointed to a seat on the U.S. Patent Office's Board of Appeals. On August 15, 1865, he was appointed commissioner of the Patent Office, a post he held until his resignation in January 1868.