Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/161

 THOMPSON

THOMPSON

THOMPSON, Robert Ellis, educator, was born near Lurgan, Ireland, April 5, 1844; son of Samuel and Catharine (Ellis) Thompson; grand- son of William and Jane (Brinkman) Thompson and of William and Lucy (Owens) Ellis. Both families were originally Quakers from the north of England, who bought forfeited land from Cornwell's soldiers. He immigrated to America with his parents in 1857; was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, A.B., 1865, A.M., 1868; attended the Reformed Presbyterian Theological seminary, 1863-67; was licensed to preach by the Reformed Presbytery of Phila- delphia in 1867, and ordained by it to the minis- try in 1873. He was instructor in mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania, 1868-71; as- sistant professor of mathematics, 1871-74; pro- fessor of social science, 1874-83; and John Welsh Centennial professor of history and English literature, 1883-93, and was chosen president of the Central High school, Philadelphia, in 1894. He was married in 1874 to Mary Ellis, daughter of Robert and Catharine (Haughey) Neely of Philadelphia, Pa. He was lecturer on protec- tive tariffs at Harvard, 1884-85, at Yale, 1886-88, and lectured without appointment at Amherst, W^illiams, Cornell, Princeton, Taylor and Swarth- niore colleges, and was Stone lecturer at Prince- ton Theological seminary, 1891. Tiie honorary degree of Ph.D. was conferred on him by Hamil- ton college in 1879, and that of S.T.D. by the University of Pennsylvania in 1887. He was editor of the Penn Monthly, 1870-81; The Ameri- can, a political weekly, 1880-91, and joined the staff of the Sunday School Times in 1892; edited "The Latin Hymn Writers and their Hymns," by Samuel W.^Duffield (1889), and " The Life of George Hay Stuart by himself" (1890), and is the author of: Social Science and National Economy (1875; revised as Elements of Political Economy, 1881); The Encyclopcedia Americana (Vols. I and II, 1884-85); De Civitate Dei, or The Divine Order of Human Society (1891); History of the Presbyterian Churches in America (1895); Tlie National Hymn Book of the American Churches (1893); Political Ecomony for Acade- mies and High Schools ( 1895); and The Hand of God in American History (1903).

THOMPSON, Smith, jurist, was born in Stanford, N.Y., Jan. 11, 1768. He was graduated from the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1788, A.M., 1791: subsequently studied law and taught school in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; was admitted to the bar in 1792, and commenced practice in Troy, but re- turned to Poughkeepsie, when Chancellor James Kent, with whom he had studied, removed to New York city, in April, 1793. He was a mem- ber of the state assembh^ 1800; was a delegate to the state constitutional convention, 1801, in

which year he refused the attorneyship of the New York middle district; was associate justice of the state supreme court, 1802-14; chief justice, 1814-18; secretary of the navy, President Munroe's cabinet, 1818-23; and associate justice of the U.S. supreme court, appointed to succeed Judge Henry Brockholst Livingston, deceased, serving, 1823-43. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the College of New Jersey and from Yale in 1824, and from Haiward, 1835, and was vice-presi- dent of the American Bible society. He died in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Dec. 18, 1843.

THOMPSON, Thomas Weston, senator, was born in Boston, Mass., Marcli 15,1766. He was graduated from Harvard, A.B., 1786, A.M., 1789, serving as tutor, 1789-91; was admitted to the bar, and began practice in Salisbury, Mass., re- moving to Concord, N.H., in 1810. He was a rep- resentative from New Hampshire in the 9th con- gress, 1805-07; state-treasurer, 1809; a represen- tative in the state legislature, serving as speaker, 1813-14, and was appointed U.S. senator from New Hampshire to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Nicholas Oilman, serving, Sept. 19, 'l814-March 3, 1817. He was a trustee of Dart- mouth college, 1801-21. He died in Concord, N.H., Oct. 1, 1831.

THOMPSON, Waddy, jurist, was born in Cum- berland county, Va., Nov. 18, 1769; fifth son of Josiali and Mary (Swann) Thompson; and a descendant of Sir Henry Swann. He was ad- mitted to the bar at Richmond, and in 1790 re- moved to Wilkes county, Ga. He was married, April 20, 1793, to Eliza Blackburn, daughter of Capt. James (of the Continental army), and Elizabeth (Blackburn) Williams. In 1798 he set- tled in " Old Pickensville," S.C.; was a repre- sentative in the state legislature; solicitor of the western circuit, which office he held until 1805, when he was elected one of the chancellors of South Carolina, the highest judicial position of the commonwealth. He resigned in 1831, and in 1832 was the Union candidate for representative in opposition to Warren R. Davis, States-Rights Democrat, but withdrew before the election. He died in Greenville, S.C, Feb. 9, 1845.

THOMPSON, Waddy, representative, was born in Pickensville, S.C, Sept. 8, 1798; son of Waddy (q.v.) and Eliza Blackburn (Williams) Thompson. He was graduated from South Caro- lina college in 1814; and was admitted to the bar in 1819. He was a representative in the state legislature, 1826-30; and solicitor of the western circuit. In 1832, during the nullification excite- ment, he was commissioned brigadier-general of the forces raised for the defence of the state. He was a Whig representative in the 24th-36th con- gresses, 1835^1; opposed the attempts of John Q. Adams to have petitions against slavery received