Library of Congress

THOMPSON, John Burton, a Representative and a Senator from Kentucky; born near Harrodsburg, Ky., December 14, 1810; completed preparatory studies; studied law; admitted to the bar and practiced in Harrodsburg, Ky.; Commonwealth attorney; member, State senate 1829-1833; member, State house of representatives 1835, 1837; elected as a Whig to the Twenty-sixth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Simeon H. Anderson; reelected to the Twenty-seventh Congress and served from December 7, 1840, to March 3, 1843; elected to the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses (March 4, 1847-March 3, 1851); chairman, Committee on the Militia (Thirtieth Congress); lieutenant governor of Kentucky 1852; elected by the American party to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1853, to March 3, 1859; died in Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Ky., January 7, 1874; interment in Spring Hill Cemetery.