Thompson, John B.

Born: 1810-12-14 Mercer County, Kentucky

Died: 1874-01-07 Harrodsburg, Kentucky

Thompson completed preparatory studies and went on to study law. He earned admittance to the bar and started a practice in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. He served as Commonwealth attorney. , From 1829 to 1833, he was a member of the Kentucky Senate. He served as a member of the State House of Representatives in 1835 and 1837. Thompson won election, as a Whig, to the U.S. House of Representatives to fill a vacancy. He won reelection and served from 1840 to 1843. In 1846, he won election back to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 1847 to 1851. He served alongside Abraham Lincoln during the Thirtieth Congress. Thompson served as lieutenant governor of Kentucky in 1852. He won election, as an American Party member, to the U.S. Senate, serving from 1853-59.

Biographical Directory of the American Congress 1774-1996 (Alexandria, VA: CQ Staff Directories, 1997), 1941; Gravestone, Spring Hill Cemetery, Harrodsburg, KY.