Thomas W. Thompson

Thomas Weston Thompson
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
In office
1807–1808
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
In office
1813–1814
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Hampshire's At-large district
In office
March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1807
Preceded by Samuel Hunt
Succeeded by Daniel Meserve Durell
United States Senator
from New Hampshire
In office
June 24, 1814 – March 3, 1817
Preceded by Nicholas Gilman
Succeeded by David L. Morril
Personal details
Born (1766-03-15)March 15, 1766
Boston, Massachusetts
Died October 1, 1821(1821-10-01) (aged 55)
Concord, New Hampshire
Resting place Old North Cemetery
Political party Federalist
Spouse(s) Elizabeth C. Porter
Children William Coombs Thompson
Charles Edward Thompson
Alma mater Harvard University
Profession Attorney
Politician

Thomas Weston Thompson (March 15, 1766 – October 1, 1821) was an American attorney and Federalist politician in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. He served as a United States Representative and United States Senator during the 1800s.

Early life and career

Thompson was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Thomas and Isabella Thompson. The family moved to Newburyport, Massachusetts when Thompson was young.[1] He attended Dummer Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts,[2] and served as an aide to General Lincoln during Shays' Rebellion.[3] Thompson graduated from Harvard University in 1786 and began studying for the ministry. He was a tutor at Harvard from 1789-1791.[4]

He read law, was admitted to the bar in 1791 and practiced law in Salisbury, New Hampshire from 1791 to 1810. Among the younger men he mentored was Daniel Webster, who started as a law apprentice with him around 1801.[5][6] Thompson was appointed postmaster of Salisbury, serving from 1798-1803. He served for more than two decades as a trustee of Dartmouth College, from 1801-1821.[7]

Political career

In 1810, Thompson moved to Concord, New Hampshire where he continued the practice of law. He was elected as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, serving from 1807-1808. He was treasurer of New Hampshire in 1810.[8] He was reelected to serve in the State House from 1813-1814 and elected Speaker.[9]

Thompson was elected as a Federalist to the Ninth U.S. Congress, serving from March 4, 1805 to March 3, 1807.[10] He was appointed state treasurer of New Hampshire from 1809-1811. Thompson was elected to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Nicholas Gilman, serving from June 24, 1814 to March 3, 1817.[11]

He died in Concord in 1821; interment was in the Old North Cemetery.

Personal life

Thompson married Elizabeth C. Porter on December 25, 1796. They had two sons, William Coombs Thompson and Charles Edward Thompson.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Chase, Frederick (1913). A history of Dartmouth college and the town of Hanover, New Hampshire, Volume 2. Vermont Printing Co. p. 62.
  2. ↑ "Thomas W. Thompson". Debate.org Reference. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  3. ↑ Bell, Charles Henry (1893). The bench and bar of New Hampshire: including biographical notices of deceased judges of the highest court, and lawyers of the province and state, and a list of names of those now living. Houghton, Mifflin and company. p. 688.
  4. ↑ Harvard University (1900). Quinquennial Catalogue of the Officers and Graduates of Harvard University. The University. p. 160.
  5. ↑ Wait, Eugene M. (1999). America and the War of 1812. Nova Publishers. p. 255.
  6. ↑ Chase, Frederick (1913). A history of Dartmouth college and the town of Hanover, New Hampshire, Volume 2. Vermont Printing Co. p. 62.
  7. ↑ Dartmouth College (1900). General Catalogue of Dartmouth College and the Associated Schools 1769-1900. Dartmouth College. p. 66.
  8. ↑ Chase, Frederick (1913). A history of Dartmouth college and the town of Hanover, New Hampshire, Volume 2. Vermont Printing Co. p. 62.
  9. ↑ New Hampshire. General Court. Senate (1813). Journal of the Proceedings of the Senate o. New Hampshire. General Court. Senate. p. 6.
  10. ↑ Congressional Serial Set. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1900. p. 740.
  11. ↑ United States. Congress. Senate (1813). Journal of the Senate of the United States of America. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. viii.
  12. ↑ Bell, Charles Henry (1893). The bench and bar of New Hampshire: including biographical notices of deceased judges of the highest court, and lawyers of the province and state, and a list of names of those now living. Houghton, Mifflin and company. p. 688.

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United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Samuel Hunt		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Hampshire's at-large congressional district
1805–1807 		Succeeded by
Daniel M. Durell
United States Senate
Preceded by
Nicholas Gilman		 U.S. Senator (Class 2) from New Hampshire
1814–1817
Served alongside: Jeremiah Mason		 Succeeded by
David L. Morril
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