Profile Text
Birth Name: Thomas Richard Carper
Place of Birth: Beckley, West Virginia, U.S.
Date of Birth: January 23, 1947
Ethnicity: English, as well as distant French
Tom Carper is an American politician and military officer. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a U.S. Senator from Delaware, from January 3, 2001 to January 3, 2025. He has also been Treasurer of Delaware, from January 18, 1977 to January 3, 1983, a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware, from January 3, 1983 to January 3, 1993, Governor of Delaware, from January 19, 1993 to January 3, 2001, Chair of the National Governors Association, from August 4, 1998 to August 10, 1999, Chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, from January 3, 2013 to January 3, 2015, and Chair of the Senate Environment Committee, from February 3, 2021 to January 3, 2025.
Tom is the son of Mary Jean (Patton) and Wallace Richard Carper. He was raised partly in Danville, Virginia, and Columbus, Ohio. He is married to Martha Ann Stacy, with whom he has two children. Tom is a Presbyterian.
Tom’s paternal grandfather was Franklin Pierce Carper (the son of Samuel Harrington W. Carper and Margaret Ann Bennett). Franklin was born in West Virginia. Samuel was the son of Joseph W. Carper and Virginia Jane Shumate. Margaret was the daughter of Minervia Bowyer. The surname Shumate originates with distant French ancestors named de la Chaumette.
Tom’s paternal grandmother was Doma Dallas Martin (the daughter of Isaac Martin and Viola Etkins).
Tom’s maternal grandfather was Ray Patton (the son of John Patton and Virginia Elizabeth Clay). Ray was born in West Virginia.
Tom’s maternal grandmother was named Effie Mae Kidd (the daughter of George Alexander Kidd and Elizabeth Evelyn). Effie was born in West Virginia. George was the son of Elisha Kidd and Margaret “Peggy” Perry.
Source: Genealogy of Tom Carper – https://www.geni.com