John Burton Thompson
Encyclopedia
John Burton Thompson was a United States Representative
and Senator
from Kentucky
.
Born near Harrodsburg, Kentucky
, Thompson completed preparatory studies and studied law. He was admitted to the bar
and practiced in Harrodsburg, becoming the Commonwealth's Attorney
. He was a member of the Kentucky Senate
from 1829 to 1833, and was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
in 1835 and 1837.
Thompson was elected as a Whig
to the United States House of Representatives
to fill the vacancy in Kentucky's 5th District caused by the death of Simeon H. Anderson
. He was subsequently reelected, and served in all from December 7, 1840 to March 3, 1843. After a time out of Congress, he was again elected to represent the same district, serving this time from March 4, 1847 to March 3, 1851. During this time he was chairman of the U.S. House Committee on the Militia.
Thompson was the 14th Lieutenant Governor
of Kentucky in 1852. He was then elected as Whig to the United States Senate
and served from March 4, 1853 to March 3, 1859. He died in Harrodsburg and was interred in Spring Hill Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
Born near Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Harrodsburg is a city in and the county seat of Mercer County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,014 at the 2000 census. It is the oldest city in Kentucky.-History:...
, Thompson completed preparatory studies and studied law. He was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
and practiced in Harrodsburg, becoming the Commonwealth's Attorney
Commonwealth's Attorney
Commonwealth's Attorney is the title given to the elected prosecutor of felony crimes in Kentucky and Virginia. Other states refer to similar prosecutors as District Attorney or State's Attorney....
. He was a member of the Kentucky Senate
Kentucky Senate
The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky Senators...
from 1829 to 1833, and was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
in 1835 and 1837.
Thompson was elected as a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
to fill the vacancy in Kentucky's 5th District caused by the death of Simeon H. Anderson
Simeon H. Anderson
Simeon H. Anderson was a United States Representative from Kentucky. Anderson was the father of William Clayton Anderson who also served as a Representative from Kentucky. He was born near Lancaster, Kentucky were he pursued preparatory studies...
. He was subsequently reelected, and served in all from December 7, 1840 to March 3, 1843. After a time out of Congress, he was again elected to represent the same district, serving this time from March 4, 1847 to March 3, 1851. During this time he was chairman of the U.S. House Committee on the Militia.
Thompson was the 14th Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
The office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the Vice President of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency...
of Kentucky in 1852. He was then elected as Whig to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and served from March 4, 1853 to March 3, 1859. He died in Harrodsburg and was interred in Spring Hill Cemetery.