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Thomas Scudder Page | |
|---|---|
| Kentucky State Auditor | |
| In office 1839–? 1851–? | |
| Appointed by | James Clark (1839) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 19,1800 New York City,New York,US |
| Died | April 17,1877 (aged 76) |
| Political party | Know Nothing (after 1855) Whig (before 1855) |
Thomas Scudder Page (April 19,1800 –April 17,1877) was Kentucky's first elected auditor of public accounts, [1] and the first elected official to be tried for corruption in that state. [2]
He was born in New York City,and moved to Kentucky in 1817.
He became a clerk with the Land Office and in 1839,was appointed auditor by Governor James Clark. [1]
Under Kentucky's third constitution,auditor became an elected position. Page was elected in 1851 as a Whig and in 1855,with the Know Nothing party.[ citation needed ] He required official collectors of funds to deposit their collections with the Auditor's office,rather than the state treasurer directly,and in 1859,was sued for corruption by the state for embezzling $88,927 (~$2.42 million in 2023). [1] Page declared bankruptcy in 1863. In 1867,he was ordered by the legislature to repay the state $88,000,plus interest and court costs. The case was settled by special act of the legislature that year,with Page agreeing to repay half. [1]
He lived the remaining 10 years of his life in destitution in Frankfort,and was buried in Frankfort Cemetery. [2] [3]
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