Thomas B Cuming was an American politician who served as the Acting Governor of the Nebraska Territory from 1854 to 1855 and again in 1857 and 1858. He was instrumental in the early development of the Nebraska Territory, and his tenure is often seen as a crucial period in Nebraska's history. Born on December 25, 1827, in Genesee County, New York, Cuming studied law before eventually moving to Iowa, where he became interested in politics. His experience in Iowa politics led to his eventual appointment as the first Secretary of the Nebraska Territory by President Franklin Pierce in 1854.

As Secretary of the Nebraska Territory, Cuming's key responsibility was to establish and organize the territorial government. With the aid of President Pierce's governor designate, Francis Burt, Cuming began organizing the territorial government in Omaha, located in present-day downtown Omaha, Nebraska. Burt's untimely death mere days after arriving in Nebraska left Cuming with the daunting task of leading the newly formed territory. As Acting Governor, he ensured that the territorial government functioned smoothly and efficiently despite facing many challenges associated with the birth of a new territory.

One major obstacle facing the Nebraska Territory was the lack of a defined boundary between it and the Kansas Territory. This led to the 'Bleeding Kansas' period, where pro-slavery forces clashed with anti-slavery forces along the border, establishing the era of bloodshed in both territories. In a bid to mitigate this danger, Cuming worked tirelessly to establish relations with Native American tribes in the area and protected the interests of settlers by collaborating with both the federal government and neighboring state officials. Cuming's decision to temporarily transfer the Nebraska capital from Omaha to Florence, a village close to present-day downtown Omaha, to be in closer proximity to the territorial Council, is also noteworthy.

During his second term as Acting Governor in 1858, the proposal to create a new territorial capital was finalized, and the site that is now Lincoln, Nebraska, was nominated to replace Omaha. Despite local opposition to the decision from Omaha residents, who were frustrated at the loss of economic benefits associated with being the territorial capital, Cuming successfully facilitated the relocation.

Cuming resigned as Secretary in 1858 and traveled back to Iowa, where he continued to work in politics for several years. His work as Acting Governor is currently recognized as being pivotal in establishing stability during the formulation and early years of the Nebraska Territory. His involvement as Acting Governor during the eventful history of Nebraska set the foundation for future growth and transformation that has today shaped Nebraska into the economic powerhouse it is.

Cuming's decision to temporarily transfer the territorial capital marked a key pivot for the Omaha area in an attempt to solidify territorial governance during a tumultuous period. One could draw comparisons to similar attempts in other newly formed territories where local opposition challenged major administrative and logistical decisions by leaders facing equally difficult challenges.

The site where Omaha once played host to Cuming, the Florence Site, would go on to host the territorial capital a further time for a short-lived spell in 1854, providing an early glimpse into what would ultimately come to shape major administrative transformations in the Nebraska Territory.

Cuming played an important role in bridging the divide between the settlement of Nebraska and large-scale governance, especially given that local skirmishes involving either major settlement elements or larger organizations began unfolding during his time as Acting Governor. Furthermore, it also shed light on post-birth challenges experienced in young territories.