Thomas Scott was born at Oldtown, Frederick (now Allegany) County, Maryland.

[2] At age eighteen, he was ordained to preach in the Methodist church and, in 1793, was placed in charge of the Ohio circuit.

[3] He learned the art of tailoring, and studied law under James Brown of Lexington, Kentucky.

[3] In 1809, Scott was chosen Judge of the Ohio Supreme Court, serving until he resigned July 25, 1815.

[5] Scott was a Whig until Henry Clay blocked his appointment as Federal District Judge.