Thomas R. Cornelius

Thomas R. Cornelius
Member of the Oregon Territory Council
In office 1856–1858
Preceded by	A. P. Dennison
Succeeded by	position dissolved
Constituency	Washington, Multnomah, & Columbia counties
Member of the Oregon State Senate
In office 1859 – 1876 (except 1862)
Preceded by	position created
Succeeded by	A. B. Wait
Constituency	Washington, Clatsop, Columbia, Tillamook
President of the Oregon State Senate
In office 1866–1867
Preceded by	John H. Mitchell
Succeeded by	Benjamin Franklin Burch
Constituency	Oregon
Personal details
Born	November 16, 1827 Missouri
Died	June 24, 1899(1899-06-24) (aged 71) Oregon
Political party	Whig, Republican
Spouse(s)	Florentine Wilkes (m. 1849) Missouri Smith (m. 1866)

Thomas Ramsey Cornelius (November 16, 1827 – June 24, 1899) was a prominent American politician and soldier in the early history of Oregon. Born in Missouri, he moved to the Oregon Country with his family as a young man, where he fought in the Cayuse War and Yakima Indian War against the Native Americans. He settled in Washington County near what later became Cornelius, named in his honor.

A Whig and later a Republican, he served in the Oregon Territorial Legislature where following statehood, he served in the Oregon State Senate. In the Senate, he served one term as the president of that chamber. He also built the Cornelius Pass Road that bears his name. He was the father of Benjamin P. Cornelius, who was also prominent in state politics.