American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts

Thompson was a jurist and politician serving in the Pennsylvania State Legislature, from 1832 to 1834 and in 1855, and as Speaker of the Pennsylvania State Legislature in 1834. Thompson was a member of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention in 1838 and President Judge of the 6th Judicial District from 1838 to 1844. He was elected to Congress as a Democrat in 1845 and served until 1851, and was Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary. He became Associate Judge of The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1857 to 1866 and served as Chief Justice from 1866 to 1874.