Richard Thomas (Zarvona)

Richard Thomas Zarvona (October 27, 1833 – March 17, 1875), born Richard Thomas Jr., was an American adventurer and a Confederate Army officer who became known as "the French lady" after a disguised Thomas and a crew of accomplices seized the passenger steamer "St. Nicholas" during the first year of the American Civil War.

The eldest son of former Maryland House of Delegates speaker Richard Thomas Sr. and the nephew of Maryland governor James Thomas, Richard Thomas Jr. was born and raised in "Mattapany," the Thomas family plantation south of the Patuxent River.Cox, Richard P., "Rebel raider disguised in hoop skirt," Washington Times] An accomplished athlete and sportsman, Thomas attended Charlotte Hill Academy and another military school in nearby Talbot County, Maryland, before receiving appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1850. Thomas survived his plebe year with 189 demerits, but resigned in October 1851. He then travelled the world, serving for a time with Garibaldi in Italy. It was then that he added "Zarvona" to his name.

Notes

References

* [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/chron/civilwarnotes/zarvona.html Biography] at [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com TheLatin Library.com]
*Cox, Richard P., [http://washingtontimes.com/article/20071006/CIVILWAR/110060018/1011 "Rebel raider disguised in hoop skirt"] ; October 6, 2007, The Washington Times [http://washingtontimes.com/ website] (accessed October 14, 2007)
*Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion; Series I, Volume 4, pages 549-555