Leslie A. Thompson
Leslie Atchinson Thompson | |
---|---|
Mayor of Tallahassee | |
In office 1830 – 1830 (1st term) 1832 (2nd) 1840 (3rd) | |
Preceded by | John Y. Garey (1st term) Charles Austin (2nd) R. B. Ker (3rd) |
Succeeded by | Charles Austin (1st term) Robert J. Hackley (2nd) Francis W. Eppes (3rd) |
Personal details | |
Born | Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. | October 8, 1806
Died | January 23, 1874 Galveston, Texas, U.S. | (aged 67)
Political party | Democratic |
Profession |
|
Leslie Atchinson Thompson (October 8, 1806 – January 23, 1874)
Early life and education
Born in Charleston, South Carolina,[2][3] "[t]he Thompson family moved to Savannah, Georgia, not long after Leslie was born".[4] Thompson went to college in Savannah, and studied law in the office of a local judge to be admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1826. He moved to Tallahassee, Florida the following year.[4]
Career and writing
Thompson opened a law practice in Tallahassee, which flourished.[3][4] Thompson then "began to participate in the politics of the state capital",[4] serving as city clerk, treasurer and mayor.[3][4] In 1838, Thompson was selected to represent Leon County, Florida at the state's Constitutional Convention,[4] held in St. Joseph, Florida from 1838 to 1839.
Thompson was "a prolific writer" who "authored several classic treatises on Florida law".[3] Following Florida's ascension to statehood in 1845, the Florida Legislature appointed Thompson to compile a digest of the general and public laws of the state and territory,[3] which sold 1,500 copies, and which placed Thompson "in the forefront of the legal profession",[4] and "was a much-cited reference source for many years".[3] Other writings by Thompson included "a compilation of the British statutes that were incorporated as part of Florida's laws", and the rules of practice for Florida's circuit courts.[3]
Judicial service
In January, 1851 the Florida legislature created a new three-member supreme court, with a chief justice and two associate justices to be elected by the legislature.
In 1853, Thompson opted to run for a full term as chief justice, but was defeated in the popular election by Thomas Baltzell.[3][4]
Later life and death
Following his electoral defeat, Thompson moved to
References
- ^ "Painted portrait of Florida Supreme Court Justice Leslie A. Thompson". Florida Memory. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ a b Erik Robinson, "Florida Supreme Court Justices: List of Life Dates", Florida Supreme Court Historical Society (June 2010).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Joseph A. Boyd Jr., Randall Reder, "A History of the Florida Supreme Court", University of Miami Law Review (1981), p. 1025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Florida Supreme Court Justices, Early Justices: 1846-1917, Florida Supreme Court Historical Society.
- ^ "Leslie Atchison Thompson". Texas Legislators: Past & Present. Texas Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved December 1, 2023.