Smith Thompson
| Smith Thompson | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States | |
|
In office September 1, 1823 – December 18, 1843 |
|
| Nominated by | James Monroe |
| Preceded by | Henry Livingston |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Nelson |
| United States Secretary of the Navy | |
|
In office January 1, 1819 – August 31, 1823 |
|
| President | James Monroe |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Crowninshield |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Southard |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 17, 1768 Amenia, New York, British America |
| Died | December 18, 1843 (aged 75) Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S. |
| Political party |
Democratic-Republican (Before 1825) National Republican (1825–1833) |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Livingston Eliza Livingston |
| Alma mater | Princeton University |
| Religion | Presbyterianism |
Smith Thompson (January 17, 1768 – December 18, 1843) was a United States Secretary of the Navy from 1819 to 1823, and a United States Supreme Court Associate Justice from 1823 until his death in 1843.
Born in Amenia, New York, Thompson graduated from Princeton University (then known as the College of New Jersey) in 1788, taught for a short period thereafter, then studied law under James Kent and subsequently set up a law practice. He practiced in Troy, New York from 1792 to 1793, and in Poughkeepsie, New York from 1793 to 1802.
Smith Thompson was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1800, and attended the New York Constitutional Convention of 1801. He was appointed to the New York State Supreme Court in 1802, serving as Associate Justice from 1802 to 1814, and Chief Justice from 1814 to 1818. His wife Susanna was a member of the Livingston family.
He was appointed the 6th Secretary of the Navy by U.S. President James Monroe in 1819, and in 1823-1824, he campaigned for the Democratic-Republican Party presidential nomination for the 1824 U.S. presidential election from which he would withdraw when outcompeted by other candidates. Thompson only reluctantly accepted his appointment to the United States Supreme Court. Thompson received a recess appointment from President James Monroe on September 1, 1823, to a seat vacated by Henry Brockholst Livingston. Formally nominated on December 5, 1823, Thompson was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 9, 1823, and received his commission the same day.
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