James Thompson (jurist)

James Thompson
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 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.

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.

Thompson served in the

and the first official chairman of any party caucus in either house of Congress.

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.

He returned to private practice until his death in

on January 28, 1874.

Thompson is interred in

.

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

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Charles M. Reed	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 23rd congressional district 1845–1851	Succeeded by Carlton B. Curtis
Legal offices
Preceded by George Washington Woodward	Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court 1867–1872	Succeeded by John Meredith Read