Arthur S. Tompkins Explained

Arthur Sidney Tompkins
Birth Date:August 26, 1865
Birth Place:Middleburgh, New York
Death Place:Nyack, New York
Office:Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York of Freemasons
Termstart:1922
Termend:1923
Predecessor:Robert H. Robinson
Successor:William A. Rowan
Office2:Justice of the New York Supreme Court
Term2:1906, 1920, 1934
Office3:Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 17th district
Termstart3:March 4, 1899
Termend3:March 3, 1903
Predecessor3:Benjamin B. Odell Jr.
Successor3:Francis Emanuel Shober
Office4:Member of the New York State Assembly from Rockland County
Termstart4:January 1, 1890
Termend4:December 31, 1890
Predecessor4:Frank P. Demarest
Successor4:Frank P. Demarest
Party:Republican

Arthur Sidney Tompkins (August 26, 1865  - January 20, 1938) was a U.S. Representative from New York, and a justice of the New York Supreme Court.

Early life

Born in Middleburgh, New York, Tompkins moved with his parents to West Nyack, New York, in 1866. He attended the public schools of Clarkstown and Nyack until 1878. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1886 and commenced practice in Nyack, New York. He was police justice of Nyack, New York, from 1887 to 1889.

Political career

Tompkins was elected chairman of the Rockland County Republican committee in 1888. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Rockland Co.) in 1890. He was a delegate to all Republican State conventions from 1888 to 1906, and as delegate or alternate to all Republican National Conventions from 1888 to 1900. He was also county judge and surrogate of Rockland County 1893-1898.

Tompkins was elected as a Republican to the 56th and 57th United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1899, to March 3, 1903. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law in Nyack.

Judicial career

Tompkins was elected justice of the Supreme Court of New York in 1906. He was reelected in 1920 and 1934. He was promoted to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York in January 1930 and served until his retirement in 1936. He died in Nyack, New York, January 20, 1938. He was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Freemasonry

Tompkins served as the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New York of Freemasons from 1922-1923.[1]

Notes and References

  1. News: 1922-05-05 . JUSTICE A.S. TOMPKINS HEADS N.Y. MASONS; Nyack Jurist, Elected Grand Master, Tells of New Era in Masonry--Other Officers Chosen . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-05-18 . 0362-4331.