Thomas Larkin Thompson Explained

Thomas Larkin Thompson
Term Start:1883
Term End:1887
Predecessor:Daniel M. Burns
Successor:William C. Hendricks
Office2:Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 1st district
Term Start2:March 4, 1887
Term End2:March 3, 1889
Term Start3:September 9, 1893
Term End3:July 17, 1897
Successor3:Edwin H. Conger
Birth Date:31 May 1838
Birth Place:Charleston, Virginia (now West Virginia)
Death Place:Santa Rosa, California
Father:Robert A. Thompson

Thomas Larkin Thompson (May 31, 1838 – February 1, 1898) was an American newspaperman and politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from California from 1887 to 1889. He was the son of Robert Augustine Thompson.

Early life and career

Born in Charleston, Virginia (now West Virginia), Thompson attended the common schools and Buffalo Academy, Virginia (now West Virginia). He moved to California in 1855 and settled in Sonoma County. He established the Petaluma Journal the same year. He purchased the Sonoma Democrat in 1860, and was the editor of that paper. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1880 and 1892, and was secretary of state of California 1883-1887. He declined to be a candidate for renomination.

Congress

Thompson was elected as a Democrat to the 50th United States Congress (March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889). He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1888 to the 51st Congress.

Later career and death

He was appointed on April 4, 1891, commissioner from California to the World's Fair at Chicago. He was minister to Brazil from April 24, 1893, to May 27, 1897.

Death

He died in Santa Rosa, California, February 1, 1898, and was interred in the Rural Cemetery.