Thompson, David (1770-1857). Born in the parish of St. John's, Westminster, England. Educated at the Gray Coat School; and entered the service of the Hudson's Bay Company, 1784. The first of his voluminous journals opens at Fort Churchill in that year. The last is dated 1850. The journals fill forty-five volumes of manuscript, and cover a period of sixty-six years. Remained in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company until 1797, and in that period carried on explorations and surveys of the Nelson, Churchill, and Saskatchewan Rivers, and the intervening territory. In 1797 joined the North West Company, and in the years that followed, explored the upper waters of the Assiniboine; made a journey overland to the Mandan villages on the Missouri; and another to the head waters of the Mississippi; and surveyed portions of the upper waters of the Saskatchewan, Athabaska, and Peace Rivers. From 1807 to 1811, explored the entire system of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers, from source to mouth. Left the North-West in 1812, and from 1816 to 1826 engaged in surveying and defining the international boundary. Afterwards carried out several minor surveys, in what is now eastern Canada. Died at Longueuil, near Montreal. Index: MS Referred to in Mackenzie's letters, 58; his explorations, 103; leaves Hudson's Bay Company, and joins North West Company, 103; visits the Mandan Indians, 104; further explorations, 105; sent to explore the Columbia, 106; crosses the Rocky Mountains, 1806, and builds post on Columbia, 106; descends the Columbia to its mouth, 106-107; builds other posts west of the mountains, 107; leaves service of the North West Company, 107; prepares his great map, 107; Thompson River named after, 109. D Completes his western work, 1811, 58; returns to eastern Canada, 58; ends his days in poverty, 59; astronomer of North West Company, 57; previously in service of Hudson's Bay Company, 57-58; extent of his travels, 58; visits Mandan country, 58; enters Bow River Pass, 1805, 58; discovers Howse Pass, 58; builds Fort Kootenay, 58; first to explore Kootenay district, 58; discoverer of Athabaska Pass, 58; proclaims British sovereignty, at junction of Spokane and Columbia, 58. Bib.: Tyrrell, Journeys of David Thompson; Henry-Thompson Journals, ed. by Coues; Laut, Conquest of the Great North-West; Burpee, Search for the Western Sea; Bryce, Hudson's Bay Company.
Thompson, David (1796-1868). Born in Scotland. Served in the British army and in the Canadian militia. Taught school in Niagara and acted as a surveyor. In 1832 published History of the late War between Great Britain and the United States of America.
Thompson, Edward. Mc Defeats Mackenzie, 308.
Thompson, James. Dr Engineer, his work on the fortifications of Quebec, 117.
Thompson, Sir John Sparrow David (1844-1894). Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Educated at Free Church Academy, Halifax. In 1859 a reporter in the House of Assembly. In 1865 called to the bar and practised in Halifax. In 1877 member for Antigonish, in the Assembly; and in 1878 attorney-general in the Holmes-Thompson government. On the retirement of Holmes in 1882, became premier, but being defeated in the House, resigned two months later. In 1882 appointed a judge of the Supreme Court. In 1885 minister of justice and attorney-general of Canada, in Sir John A. Macdonald's government, being elected for Antigonish to the House of Commons. Appointed legal adviser to the British plenipotentiaries who arranged the Fishery Treaty with the United States in 1888, and knighted for his services. In 1892 premier, on the retirement of Sir John Abbott. In 1893 went to Paris as one of the arbitrators upon the Bering Sea fisheries dispute. In 1894, while on a visit to England, and soon after being sworn in as a member of the Imperial Privy Council, died suddenly at Windsor Castle. Index: Md Minister of justice, 254; his address when unveiling statue of John A. Macdonald at Hamilton, 332. Bib.: Morgan, Can. Men; Dict. Nat. Biog.; Hopkins, Life of Sir John Thompson.
Thompson, Samuel. B His pen picture of George Brown, 4-5.
Thompson, S. R. T Anti-Confederate candidate in St. John County, New Brunswick, 108, 109.
Thompson, William (1725-1781). Born in Ireland. Emigrated to Pennsylvania, and commanded a troop of mounted militia in the French and Indian campaigns. In 1776 appointed a brigadier-general by Congress, and sent to Canada with reinforcements for General John Thomas. On June 6, ordered by General Sullivan, who had succeeded Thomas, to attack the enemy at Three Rivers, but badly defeated and taken prisoner; exchanged two years later. Index: Dr Sent to attack Fraser at Three Rivers, 145; repulsed with loss, 146. Bib.: Cyc. Am. Biog.
Thomson, Andrew. Sy Elder brother and business partner of Sydenham, 9; annoyed at losses and expenses incurred by his brother, 14.
Thomson, Edward William (1849- ). Canadian author and journalist. Index: B His sketch of Gordon Brown, 245. Bib.: Morgan, Can. Men; Canadian Who's Who.