Thomas W. Thompson

For the Union Army soldier, see Thomas W. Thompson (Medal of Honor).

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.

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, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America
Died	October 1, 1821(1821-10-01) (aged 55) Concord, New Hampshire, U.S.
Resting place	Old North Cemetery
Political party	Federalist
Spouse	Elizabeth C. Porter
Children	William Coombs Thompson Charles Edward Thompson
Alma mater	Harvard College
Profession	Attorney Politician

Early life and career

Thompson was born in Boston in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, 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 to 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][1] Thompson was appointed postmaster of Salisbury, serving from 1798 to 1803. He served for more than two decades as a trustee of Dartmouth College, from 1801 to 1821.^[6]

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 to 1808. He was treasurer of New Hampshire in 1810.^[1] He was reelected to serve in the State House from 1813 to 1814 and elected Speaker.^[7]

Thompson was elected as a Federalist to the Ninth U.S. Congress, serving from March 4, 1805, to March 3, 1807.^[8] He was appointed state treasurer of New Hampshire from 1809 to 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.^[9]

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.^[3]