Wiley Thompson
Encyclopedia
Wiley Thompson was a United States Representative from Georgia
.
Born in Amelia County, Virginia
, Thompson moved to Elberton, Georgia
, and served as a commissioner of the Elbert County Academy in 1808. He served in the Georgia Senate
from 1817 to 1819 and was appointed Major General
of the Fourth Division of the Georgia Militia
in November 1817, a position in which he served until his resignation in November 1824.
Thompson was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 17th United States Congress
and reelected as a Crawford Republican to the 18th Congress
. Thompson was then elected as a Jacksonian
to the 19th
and three successive Congresses (20th
, 21st
and 22nd
). His congressional tenure spanned from March 4, 1821, through March 3, 1833.
After his congressional service, Thompson served as a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1833. He became an Indian agent
to the Seminole
s and was appointed in 1834 to superintend the removal of the Seminoles from Florida
. This episode of his life was artistically described by Thomas Mayne Reid
in the novel Oceola. Thompson was subsequently killed by a band of Seminoles led by Osceola
at Fort King
, Florida, on December 28, 1835, and was buried on his estate in Elberton.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Born in Amelia County, Virginia
Amelia County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,400 people, 4,240 households, and 3,175 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 4,609 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
, Thompson moved to Elberton, Georgia
Elberton, Georgia
Elberton is the largest city in Elbert County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,743 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Elbert County and serves as a hub for industry and small business in Northeast Georgia...
, and served as a commissioner of the Elbert County Academy in 1808. He served in the Georgia Senate
Georgia Senate
The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly .-Composition:According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members...
from 1817 to 1819 and was appointed Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
of the Fourth Division of the Georgia Militia
Georgia Militia
The Georgia Militia existed from 1733 to 1879. It was originally planned by General James Oglethorpe prior to the founding of the Province of Georgia, the British colony that would become the state of Georgia. One reason for the founding of the colony was to act as a buffer between the Spanish...
in November 1817, a position in which he served until his resignation in November 1824.
Thompson was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 17th United States Congress
17th United States Congress
The Seventeenth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1821 to March 3, 1823, during the fifth and sixth...
and reelected as a Crawford Republican to the 18th Congress
18th United States Congress
The Eighteenth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1823 to March 3, 1825, during the seventh and eighth...
. Thompson was then elected as a Jacksonian
Jacksonian
Jacksonian may refer to:*Jacksonian Democrats, party faction*Jacksonian democracy, American political philosophy *Jacksonian seizure, in neurology...
to the 19th
19th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: John C. Calhoun * President pro tempore: John Gaillard , until December 4, 1825** Nathaniel Macon , from May 20, 1826- House of Representatives :* Speaker: John W. Taylor -Members:...
and three successive Congresses (20th
20th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: John C. Calhoun * President pro tempore: Samuel Smith - House of Representatives :* Speaker: Andrew Stevenson -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
, 21st
21st United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: John C. Calhoun * President pro tempore: Samuel Smith - House of Representatives :* Speaker: Andrew Stevenson -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
and 22nd
22nd United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President:** John C. Calhoun , resigned December 28, 1832, thereafter vacant.* President pro tempore:** Samuel Smith , first elected December 5, 1831** Littleton W...
). His congressional tenure spanned from March 4, 1821, through March 3, 1833.
After his congressional service, Thompson served as a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1833. He became an Indian agent
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
to the Seminole
Seminole
The Seminole are a Native American people originally of Florida, who now reside primarily in that state and Oklahoma. The Seminole nation emerged in a process of ethnogenesis out of groups of Native Americans, most significantly Creeks from what is now Georgia and Alabama, who settled in Florida in...
s and was appointed in 1834 to superintend the removal of the Seminoles from Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. This episode of his life was artistically described by Thomas Mayne Reid
Thomas Mayne Reid
Thomas Mayne Reid , was an Irish-American novelist. "Captain" Reid wrote many adventure novels akin to those written by Frederick Marryat and Robert Louis Stevenson. He was a great admirer of Lord Byron...
in the novel Oceola. Thompson was subsequently killed by a band of Seminoles led by Osceola
Osceola
Osceola, also known as Billy Powell , became an influential leader with the Seminole in Florida. He was of Creek, Scots-Irish and English parentage, and had migrated to Florida with his mother after the defeat of the Creek in 1814.Osceola led a small band of warriors in the Seminole resistance...
at Fort King
Fort King
Fort King was a United States military fort in north central Florida. It was named after Colonel William King, commander of Florida's Fourth Infantry and the first governor of the provisional West Florida region. The fort was built in 1827, and became the genesis of the city of Ocala...
, Florida, on December 28, 1835, and was buried on his estate in Elberton.