Thomas Bragg, Jr., older brother of Confederate General Braxton Bragg (22 March 1817-27 September 1876), was born to Thomas Bragg, Sr. (05 May 1778-31 January 1831) and Margaret Crossland in Warrenton, Warren County, North Carolina on 09 November 1810. He attended Warrenton Academy before graduating from Captain Partridge’s Military Academy in Middletown, Middlesex County, Connecticut. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1833, commenced his practice in Jackson, Northampton County, North Carolina, and married Isabelle Cuthbert on 04 October 1837.

     Bragg was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons in 1842-1843 and was the prosecuting attorney for Northampton County. He was later a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1844, 1848, and 1852, and also served as a presidential elector on the Democratic ticket of Franklin Pierce (23 November 1804-08 October 1869) and William Rufus Devane King (07 April 1786-18 April 1853) in 1852. He was elected Governor of North Carolina and held the office from 1855 to 1859. Following his gubernatorial term, he was elected to the U.S. Senate on behalf of North Carolina and served from 04 March 1859 until 06 March 1861, when he withdrew in support of secession.

     President Jefferson Davis (03 June 1808-06 December 1889) appointed him Attorney General on 21 November 1861. The primary focus of his work was in establishing the state court systems throughout the Confederacy. He left office on 17 March 1862, and resumed his law practice in North Carolina. Bragg died in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina on 21 January 1872 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.