Thomas Walker Gilmer Thomas Walker Gilmer ( April 6 , 1802 – February 28 , 1844 ) was an American statesman . Born in Gilmerton , Virginia , Gilmer studied law , practiced in Charlottesville , Virginia , and served for many years in the Virginia House of Delegates ( 1829–1836 , 1839–1840 ) , for two sessions as speaker . From 1840 until 1841 he served as Governor of Virginia . In 1841 he entered the 27th U.S. Congress , and although he had been elected as a Whig , sustained President John Tyler 's vetoes . He was re-elected to the 28th Congress as a Democrat in 1842 by a close vote . His competitor , William L. Goggin , contested the result without success . He was married to Anne E. Baker , daughter of John Baker of West Virginia . As one of President Tyler 's close Virginia allies in Washington , Gilmer was involved in the effort by the Tyler Administration to make the annexation of Texas the basis for his failed bid for reelection in 1844 . On February 15 , 1844 , he was appointed by Tyler to be U.S. Secretary of the Navy , and resigned his seat in congress on February 18 to enter on the duties of the office , but 10 days later was killed by the bursting of a gun on board USS Princeton while on a tour of the Potomac River . His death meant the loss of a valuable ally for Tyler and some historians suggest that it may have delayed the Texas annexation effort . He is buried at Mount Air Cemetery in Albemarle County , Virginia . Two ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Gilmer in his honor . Also , Gilmer County , West Virginia and an academic building at the University of Virginia , Gilmer Hall , and the city of Gilmer , Texas are also named in his honor. ( Gilmer is the county seat of Upshur County , Texas , named after Abel Parker Upshur , another victim of the USS Princeton explosion . ) Sources This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . This article incorporates text from the public domain Appleton 's Cyclopedia of American Biography . Preceded by : David Henshaw United States Secretary of the Navy 1844 Succeeded by : John Y. Mason Preceded by : David Campbell Governor of Virginia 1840 – 1841 Succeeded by : John Mercer Patton Governors of Virginia Henry • Jefferson • Fleming • Nelson • Harrison • Henry • E Randolph • B Randolph • H Lee • Brooke • Wood • Monroe • Page • Cabell • Tyler Sr • G Smith • Monroe • G Smith • P Randolph • Barbour • Nicholas • Preston • T Randolph • Pleasants • J Tyler • Giles • J Floyd • Tazewell • Robertson • Campbell • Gilmer • Patton • Rutherford • Gregory • McDowell • W `` EB '' Smith • JB Floyd • Johnson • Wise • Letcher • W `` EB '' Smith • Pierpont • Wells • Walker • Kemper • Holliday • Cameron • F Lee • McKinney • Ferrall • JH Tyler • Montague • Swanson • Mann • Stuart • Davis • Trinkle • Byrd • Pollard • Peery • Price • Darden • Tuck • Battle • Stanley • Almond • A Harrison • Godwin • Holton • Godwin • Dalton • Robb • Baliles • Wilder • Allen • Gilmore • Warner • Kaine Categories : Wikipedia articles incorporating text from Appleton 's Cyclopedia | 1802 births | 1844 deaths | Accidental deaths | Governors of Virginia | Members of the Virginia House of Delegates | Members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia | United States Secretaries of the Navy In other languages : 日本語 United States Secretary of the Navy David Henshaw John Y. Mason 1844 Governor of Virginia David Campbell John Mercer Patton 1840 – 1841 