# Thomas H. Armstrong *Nineteenth-century Minnesota banker, lawyer, legislator and fifth lieutenant governor.* Thomas Henry Armstrong (February 6, 1829 – December 29, 1891) was a banker, lawyer and legislator in [[Minnesota]] who held office as the state's fifth [[Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota]].[^1] He held the lieutenant governorship from January 8, 1866, to January 7, 1870, serving with Governor [[William Rainey Marshall]].[^1] He was a member of the Minnesota Constitutional Convention and sat in both chambers of the state legislature.[^1] Armstrong was born in Ohio and moved to Minnesota in 1855. He lived at High Forest and later at Albert Lea, where he died in 1891.[^1] He was a Douglas Democrat before the Civil War and became a Republican when the war began. In 1874 he won a State Senate seat as an independent.[^1] ## Biography Armstrong was born in Milan, Ohio, on February 6, 1829. His parents were Augustus Armstrong (1790–1862) and Phebe Higby (1805–1864).[^1] Augustus was a native of Rhode Island who relocated to Milan, married Phebe Higby there, and took up farming.[^1] Thomas studied at Milan for a couple of years. In 1855 he moved to Minnesota and made his home at High Forest.[^1] He remained there until April 1875, when he relocated to Albert Lea. He died in that city in 1891.[^1] ## Political career Armstrong changed parties with the Civil War. He had been a Douglas Democrat, and when the war broke out he became a staunch Republican.[^1] He was lieutenant governor under Governor Marshall from January 8, 1866, to January 7, 1870.[^1] In 1873 he sought the office of [[Governor of Minnesota]], but he withdrew from the Republican primary after the second ballot.[^1] In the autumn of 1874 he ran for the State Senate as an independent and won.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Thomas H. Armstrong* (revision 1365790136, retrieved 2026-10-25) — establishes the birth, parentage, residence, party affiliation, offices, dates of service and death summarized above. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_H._Armstrong