James Thompson (jurist)

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

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.

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 1832–1834 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

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
1st district	Fitzsimons Swanwick Waln W. Jones (3- and 4-seat era, A: Clay Say Seybert W. Milnor Seybert Forrest W. Milnor Forrest, B: Ja. Richards W. Anderson T. Smith W. Anderson Hemphill, C: Leib Porter J. Milnor C. Ingersoll Hopkinson S. Edwards, D: Conard J. Williams Sergeant) Breck Wurts Sutherland Paynter C. Brown E. Morris Levin Florence Lehman Randall Freeman Bingham Vare Hazlett Beck Ransley Sacks Gallagher Barrett Gallagher Barrett M. Myers Foglietta B. Brady B. Fitzpatrick
2nd district	F. A. C. Muhlenberg (Multiple seat era, A: F. A. C. Muhlenberg McClenachan Leib W. Milnor R. Brown Rog. Davis W. Darlington I. Darlington W. Darlington Hemphill T. Kittera Hemphill Sergeant Horn Binney J. Ingersoll Sergeant J. Ingersoll, B: Conrad W. Milnor J. Roberts Henderson Hahn Pawling Gross Harper Toland, C: I. Van Horne Pugh J. Ross Rodman) J. Ingersoll Chandler Tyson E. Morris Biddle O'Neill Creely O'Neill Adams J. Reyburn Cook W. Reyburn Graham Stokes Beck W. H. Wilson Pratt W. Granahan McGarvey W. Granahan K. Granahan Nix Gray Blackwell Fattah D. Evans Boyle
3rd district	Jacobs (Multiple seat era, A: Thomas Hemphill Jos. Hiester Lower Joh. Hiester D. Hiester II Rog. Davis Gloninger Crouch Whiteside Hibshman Buchanan, B: I. Anderson M. Richards Hyneman Ja. Whitehill Slaymaker Wallace J. Phillips, C: Jo. Whitehill R. Jenkins Lefever) D. Miller Watmough Ash Harper Naylor C. Ingersoll Joh. Smith Jo. Campbell C. Brown H. Moore Robbins Millward Landy Verree L. Myers Moffet L. Myers Randall Vaux McAleer Halterman McAleer Burk Castor J. Moore Ransley Waldron Fenerty Bradley Ha. Scott Byrne W. J. Green III Lederer Jos. Smith Borski English Dahlkemper M. Kelly D. Evans
4th district	D. Hiester I (Multiple seat era, A: Sitgreaves R. Brown Hanna R. Whitehill Glasgow Spangler Hostetter Ja. Mitchell Buchanan W. Heister Davies Je. Brown, B: Jo. Richards Chapman P. Muhlenberg I. Van Horne Bard S. Edwards S. Anderson Leiper Potts James, C: Wayne Miner J. Evans E. Darlington J. Edwards) C. Ingersoll Robbins Witte Broom H. Phillips Millward Kelley J. Reyburn Young Foerderer Moon Edmonds Golder Edmonds Daly Sheridan Maloney Chudoff Nix Toll Eilberg Dougherty Kolter Klink M. Hart Altmire Perry Dean
5th district	J. Kittera D. Hiester I Ege Jos. Hiester Gregg D. Montgomery G. Smith (2-seat era, A: W. Crawford Boden Findlay, B: R. Whitehill Rea W. Maclay Fullerton McCullough McSherry) Markley Sterigere J. K. Mann Ja. Fry Fornance Yost Freedley McNair Cadwalader O. Jones J. Wood W. Davis Thayer Taylor Reading Taylor Harmer Robbins Harmer Morrell Foulkrod Donohoe P. Costello Connolly Dorsey Gartner F. Smith Pracht W. J. Green Jr. Sarbacher W. J. Green Jr. W. J. Green III Ware Schulze Clinger Peterson G. Thompson M. Scanlon
6th district	Gregg (1- and 2-seat era, A: S. Maclay Hanna J. Stewart J. Kelly W. Crawford Ingham S. Moore Ingham, B: R. Brown J. Ross Rogers) Harris I. Green Bucher R. Ramsey M. Morris J. Davis R. Ramsey Jenks Erdman Hornbeck Bridges T. Ross W. Everhart Hickman Stiles Boyer Stiles Acker Biery Townsend Ward J. Everhart S. Darlington Robinson T. Butler McCreary Logue Darrow Welsh Rob. Davis Stokes Stack F. Myers McGlinchey Hu. Scott Toll Rhodes Yatron Holden Gerlach R. Costello Houlahan
7th district	Hartley J. Kittera Boude Rea Piper Hyneman Udree Jos. Hiester Udree Worman Udree (2-seat era, A: H. Wilson Krebs Jo. Fry H. King, B: Udree Addams H. Muhlenberg) Wagener Westbrook McIlvaine Dickey Morrison Bridges Bradshaw Chapman Longnecker T. Cooper Stiles Broomall Townsend A. Wood I. Evans Godshalk I. Evans Yardley Hallowell Wanger T. Butler Darrow Drew Darrow Hu. Scott Wolfenden Chadwick James Milliken Watkins L. Williams Edgar Weldon Sestak Meehan M. Scanlon Wild
8th district	Findley Hartley J. Stewart Findley Piper A. Ogle Philson Tod (2 seat era, A: Rogers Wolf S. A. Smith, B: Ingham Ihrie) H. King Hubley Newhard Stevens H. Muhlenberg J. Jones Keim Schwartz McKenty Ancona Getz Clymer Ermentrout Mutchler Wanger Difenderfer Watson T. Butler Wolfenden Gerlach Lichtenwalter Vaughn K. King Curtin Biester Kostmayer J. Coyne Kostmayer Greenwood M. Fitzpatrick P. Murphy M. Fitzpatrick B. Fitzpatrick Cartwright
9th district	Gregg Smilie Bard Burnside W. P. Maclay Jo. Brown (3 seat era, A: Kremer Ford, B: McKean Stephens, C: Ellis E. Van Horne Marr L. Dewart) H. Muhlenberg Keim Ritter Strong J. Jones I. Hiester A. Roberts Stevens O. Dickey A. Smith Hiestand Brunner Erdman Ermentrout H. Green Cassel Griest Watson Frey Gerlach Kinzer Dague Watkins Ware Bu. Shuster Bi. Shuster Meuser
10th district	Bard H. Woods W. Hoge J. Hoge Hamilton W. Hoge Lyle (2-seat era, A: I. Smith W. Wilson Denison, B: J. Irwin D. Scott J. Murray Ellis T. Murray) Ja. Mitchell A. King Clark Reily Simonton Brodhead M. Dimmick Middleswarth J. Ch. Kunkel Killinger Strouse Cake Killinger Mutchler Bridges Bachman Mutchler Sowden Brosius W. Connell Cassel Howell Dale Nicholls Farr McLane Farr C. Connell Griest Kinzer J. Murphy Scoblick O'Neill Carrigg Prokop W. Scranton McDade Sherwood Carney Marino Perry
11th district	Findley Smilie Lucas S. Smith Lacock Findley Marchand Plumer (2-seat era, A: J. Wilson T. Crawford, B: Findlay W. Ramsey McCoy) Barnitz Logan Gerry Bidlack Leib C. Butler Brisbin H. Fuller Straub Jam. Campbell W. L. Dewart Jam. Campbell Johnson Van Auken Collins Klotz Storm Buckalew J. Scranton Amerman J. Scranton W. Connell Palmer Lenahan Palmer Bowman Joh. Casey Templeton Joh. Casey C. Coughlin Watres P. Boland V. Boland J. Murphy Flood M. Jenkins Flood Musto Nelligan Harrison Kanjorski Barletta Smucker
12th district	Gallatin W. Hoge Lyle Patterson Jo. Brown Jo. Mitchell J. Scott R. Allison Chambers Sheffer J. Cooper Read G. Fuller Wilmot Grow H. Wright H. Fuller J. Montgomery Leidy G. Scranton H. Wright Denison Woodward Shoemaker Ketcham Stanton H. Wright J. Scranton Connolly J. Scranton Lynch Osborne Shonk Hines Leisenring M. Williams Davenport Palmer Patterson C. Brumm Garner R. Lee Heaton Reber Joh. Casey Carpenter Joh. Casey Turpin Flannery T. Miller Fenton Whalley Saylor Murtha Critz Rothfus Marino Keller S. Lee
13th district	Griffin Tarr A. Stewart Tod Thomson C. Forward Burd J. Miller J. Black McClure W. S. Ramsey McClure Gustine Frick Pollock Jos. Casey Gamble Packer W. Dimmick Johnson Tracy Mercur Bunnell Strawbridge Ja. Reilly Ryon C. Brumm Ja. Reilly C. Brumm Ryan Patterson Kline Rothermel Dewalt Gernerd G. Brumm Palmer G. Brumm Gildea Fenton Hoch F. A. Muhlenberg Rhodes McConnell Lafore Schweiker L. Coughlin Margolies-Mezvinsky Fox Hoeffel Schwartz Boyle Joyce
14th district	Tannehill J. Woods Baldwin W. Forward A. Stewart T. Irwin Potter McCulloch Irvin A. Ramsey Eckert Pitman Bibighaus Grow W. Miller G. Miller Packer Killinger Barr Bound Rife Woomer Olmsted C. Wright Lilley Pratt Kipp Ainey McFadden Croll Esterly Bushong Esterly Lichtenwalner Richardson Moser Hoch Gillette Carrigg Rhodes Moorhead W. Coyne Doyle Reschenthaler
15th district	T. Wilson R. Moore Farrelly Patterson Lawrence McCreery McKennan Beaumont Petrikin Bidlack Nes McClean Nes Danner Kurtz Gamble Pearce A. White Hale J. Bailey Glossbrenner Haldeman Magee Powell Overton Jadwin Post Bunnell M. Wright Jorden Codding C. Wright Deemer W. B. Wilson Kiess McFadden Dietrich Rutherford Gillette Rich Bush Walter Rooney Ritter McHale Toomey C. Dent Wild G. Thompson
16th district	(2-seat era, A: J. Allison Orr Denny, B: W. Forward Stevenson Gilmore) Anthony Hammond Snyder J. Black Brady McLanahan Kurtz Todd Ahl Junkin J. Bailey Coffroth Koontz Meyers Cessna S. Ross Jo. I. Mitchell R. J. C. Walker W. Brown McCormick Hopkins Leonard Packer Deemer Dickerman Samuel McHenry Lesher Kline Kiess Rich T. Scanlon McConnell J. Cr. Kunkel Eshleman B. Walker Pitts Smucker M. Kelly
17th district	Plumer Coulter Laporte S. Morris Dimock Read Irvin Blanchard Calvin Parker Russell Robison W. Reilly McPherson McAllister Barker Morrell Speer Jo. Reilly Jac. Campbell Coffroth Jac. Campbell Scull Buckalew Wolverton Kulp Polk Billmeyer Mahon Focht Dershem Focht Cummings Magrady Ditter McConnell Simpson Bush Schneebeli Ertel Gekas Holden Cartwright Lamb Deluzio
18th district	Farrelly Barlow Sill Banks Burd J. Mann C. Ogle H. Black J. Russell A. Stewart A. Ogle Dawson McCulloch Edie Blair Hale S. Wilson Armstrong Sherwood S. Ross Stenger Fisher Atkinson Mahon Olmsted Kreider Beers Biddle Focht Simpson J. Cr. Kunkel Mumma Simpson Elliott Whalley Corbett Heinz Walgren Santorum Doyle T. Murphy Lamb Doyle
19th district	Coulter Klingensmith Marchand Foster J. Mann Kuhns Drum Covode Scofield Curtis Maish Beltzhoover Duncan Swope Maish Beltzhoover Stahle Benner Ziegler Lewis A. Evans Reynolds Hartman W. Bailey Rose Sites Swartz Doutrich Swope Gavin Stauffer Quigley Stauffer Quigley G. Goodling Craley G. Goodling B. Goodling Platts
20th district	Hook Beeson
29th district	Brainerd
32nd district	Ja. Brown Barchfeld G. Campbell S. Porter Erk Muldowney Moritz Eberharter J. Wright Eberharter
33rd district	M. C. Kelly Ellenbogen McArdle Holland Weiss F. Buchanan V. Buchanan
34th district	Morin Sullivan Dunn J. Wright
35th district	J. M. Magee Estep
36th district	G. Campbell

Chief Justices of Pennsylvania
18th Century	David Lloyd Jeremiah Langhorne James Logan William Allen Benjamin Chew Thomas McKean Edward Shippen, IV	Seal of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
19th Century	William Tilghman John Bannister Gibson Jeremiah S. Black Ellis Lewis Walter H. Lowrie George W. Woodward James Thompson John M. Read Daniel Agnew George Sharswood Ulysses Mercur Isaac G. Gordon Edward M. Paxson James P. Sterrett Henry Green J. Brewster McCollum
20th Century	James T. Mitchell D. Newlin Fell J. Hay Brown Robert von Moschzisker Robert S. Frazer John W. Kephart William I. Schaffer George W. Maxey James B. Drew Horace Stern Charles Alvin Jones John C. Bell Jr. Benjamin R. Jones Michael J. Eagen Henry X. O'Brien Samuel J. Roberts Robert N. C. Nix Jr. John P. Flaherty Jr.
21st Century	Stephen Zappala Sr. Ralph Cappy Ronald D. Castille Thomas G. Saylor Max Baer Debra Todd

Speakers of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Bingham Wynkoop Latimer Evans Weaver Snyder Porter Snyder Boileau Engle Weber Tod R. Smith St. Clair Holgate Hill Davidson Hill J. Lawrence Gilmore J. Lawrence Sutherland Ritner Middleswarth F. Smith Laporte Findley Anderson W. Patterson J. Thompson Middleswarth Dewart Hopkins Crabb Snowden H. Wright Snowden F. Patterson Cooper Packer McCalmont Cessna Rhey Schell Chase Strong R. Wright Getz Longaker W. Lawrence Davis Rowe Cessna Johnson Olmstead Kelley Glass Davis Clark Strang Webb Elliott McCormick S. Patterson Myer Long Hewitt Faunce Graham Boyer C. Thompson Walton Boyer Farr Marshall Walton McClain Cox Shreve Alter Ambler Baldwin Spangler Whitaker Goodnough Bluett McClure Hess Goodnough Talbot Sarig Furman Turner Kilroy Fiss Lichtenwalter Sorg C. Smith Andrews Helm Andrews Helm Hamilton Lee Fineman Lee Fineman Irvis Seltzer Ryan Irvis Manderino O'Donnell DeWeese Ryan Perzel O'Brien McCall S. Smith Turzai Cutler Rozzi McClinton

Chairs of the United States House Committee on the Judiciary
C. Ingersoll Nelson Sergeant Nelson Webster Barbour Buchanan Davis Foster Beardsley Thomas Sergeant Barnard Wilkins Saunders Rathbun J. Ingersoll Thompson McLanahan Stanton Simmons Houston Hickman Wilson Bingham Butler Knott T. Reed Tucker Culberson Taylor Culberson Henderson Ray Jenkins Parker Clayton Webb Volstead Graham Sumners Michener Celler C. Reed Celler Rodino Brooks Hyde Sensenbrenner Conyers Smith Goodlatte Nadler Jordan

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