THOMPSON, James, jurist, born in Middlesex, Butler County, Pennsylvania, 1 October, 1806; died in Philadelphia, 28 January, 1874. After receiving a good education, he began life as a printer, subsequently studied law, and in 1829 was admitted to the bar. He was chosen to the legislature in 1832, 1833, and 1834, during the latter year serving as speaker of the house, although he was the youngest member. He was a presidential elector in 1836, voting for Martin Van Buren, in 1838 a delegate to the Constitutional convention of Pennsylvania, and in 1889 was appointed president-judge of the 6th judicial district of the state, in which office he served until 1844, when he was elected by the Democrats to congress, being re-elected in 1846 and 1848. In 1855, against his desire, he was again elected to the legislature, where he remained one term, and after that declined nominations for both the legislature and congress. In 1857 he was elected to the supreme court of the state, and served nine years as justice and six years as chief justice. On the expiration of his term he was renominated by the Democrats, but failed of an election, though running ahead of his ticket. He mingled with his judicial qualities warm affections and genial manners. His judicial opinions are found in the supreme court reports, from vol. xxx. to vol. lxxii, inclusive. After his retirement he resumed the practice of law in Philadelphia, and his death occurred suddenly while he was engaged in arguing a cause before the same court over which he had so recently presided, his opponent in the cause being his predecessor in the office of chief justice, George W. Woodward.