Thomas Davis Warren, Sr. was born on January 21, 1872, in Chowan County, North Carolina. A longtime resident of New Bern, Warren served one term as a senator in the General Assembly (1901-1903), one term as a representative in the same (1905), as chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Executive Committee (1914-1921), and one recess appointment as a U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District (1919-1920). He died in New Bern on February 17, 1936.