James Thompson (jurist)

James Thompson (October 1, 1806 – January 28, 1874) was a lawyer, politician and jurist from Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Congress and in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he was Speaker in 1835. He also served as a federal judge and as a member of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

James Thompson
Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
In office 1866–1872
Preceded by	George W. Woodward
Succeeded by	John M. Read
Associate Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
In office 1857–1866
Preceded by	Walter H. Lowrie
Succeeded by	George Sharswood
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office 1855
Constituency	Erie County
In office 1832–1835
Preceded by	John Galbraith
Constituency	Venango County and Warren County
Chair of the House Democratic Caucus
In office March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851
Speaker	Howell Cobb
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Edson B. Olds
Chair of the House Judiciary Committee
In office 1849–1851
Preceded by	Joseph R. Ingersoll
Succeeded by	James X. McLanahan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 23rd district
In office March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1851
Preceded by	Charles M. Reed
Succeeded by	Carlton B. Curtis
Judge of the Sixth Judicial District Court of Pennsylvania
In office 1838–1844
24th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office 1835–1874
Preceded by	William Patterson
Succeeded by	Ner Middleswarth
Personal details
Born	James Thompson (1806-10-01)October 1, 1806 Butler County, Pennsylvania
Died	January 28, 1874(1874-01-28) (aged 67) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mary Parker Snowden
Children	6

Life and career

Thompson was born in Middlesex Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania on October 1, 1806. After learning the printing trade, Thompson studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1829 and practiced as a lawyer in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Thompson served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1832 to 1834 and in 1855 and served as Speaker in 1834.

He was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1838, and the presiding judge of the sixth judicial district court from 1838 until 1844, when he was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives.

Congress

Thompson served in the Twenty-ninth, Thirtieth, and Thirty-first Congresses, from March 4, 1845 until March 3, 1851. He was the chairman of the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary during his second term. In the 31st Congress, Thompson became the first recorded Democratic Caucus Chairman and the first official chairman of any party caucus in either house of Congress.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Thompson did not run for reelection in 1850, but instead returned to practicing law. He became an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1857 to 1866, and served as chief justice of that court from 1866 to 1872.

Later career and death

He returned to private practice until his death in Philadelphia on January 28, 1874.

Thompson is interred in Woodlands Cemetery.

References

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• The Political Graveyard