A half-length portrait of a man in a black jacket, silver satin waistcoat with a high white col…

Thomas George Percy Ellis

Artist Unknown

Sitter Thomas George Percy Ellis (American, 1805 - 1838)

Datec. 1823

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsFramed: 30 1/8 × 25 inches (76.5 × 63.5 cm)

Credit LineBequest of Jane E. Smith, in memory of her husband, Raymond Telfair Smith.

Object number1948.18

On View

On view

CopyrightThe images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextThomas George Percy Ellis was born of the planter class in Natchez, Mississippi in 1805. According to his daughter Sarah, he studied at Princeton University, and loved books and intellectual discussion. He married Mary Malvina Routh (1813-1858) in 1828 when she was 15 years old. Thomas and Mary had four children. Ellis died 28 Jan 1838 in Tensas Parish, Louisiana and is buried in the Routh Cemetery in Natchez. He died young, leaving enormous debts. Mary Routh Ellis fortuitously married a financier, Charles Dahlgren, whose wealth rescued the family and their properties and educated her children.

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