Thomas J. Galbraith

Thomas J. Galbraith (1825–1909) was an American politician. In 1857, he signed the Republican version of the Minnesota State Constitution. Galbraith served in the Minnesota Territorial House of Representatives in 1856. He then served the 18th district in the Minnesota State Senate in 1861, living in Scott County at the time. In 1862, Galbraith worked as an Indian agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs at the Lower Sioux Agency, succeeding Joseph R. Brown. He also dealt with the Dakota people who did not want to convert to a new way of life.

On August 15, 1862, he was involved in a confrontation between some Dakota tribesmen, U.S. troops, and local traders. Galbraith refused to distribute food to the Indians, although they were suffering from famine and the government's treaty payments were late. It proved one of many causes of the Dakota War of 1862 that began twelve days later. Andrew Myrick, who made derogatory comments in the incident, was killed on August 18, 1862, though Galbraith apparently escaped. He is said to have died in Cheyenne, Wyoming some years later.

References

• Index to Politicians: Galbraith. The Political Graveyard.
• Thomas Galbraith at Find A Grave