Waddy Thompson Jr.

Waddy Thompson, Jr.
United States Minister to Mexico
In office February 10, 1842 – March 9, 1844
Appointed by	John Tyler
Preceded by	Henry E. Lawrence (as Special Diplomatic Agent)
Succeeded by	Moses Yale Beach (as Special Diplomatic Agent)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 6th district
In office September 10, 1835 – March 3, 1841
Preceded by	Warren R. Davis
Succeeded by	William Butler
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
In office 1826–1829
Personal details
Born	(1798-01-08)January 8, 1798 Pickensville, Ninety-Six District, South Carolina
Died	November 23, 1868(1868-11-23) (aged 70) Tallahassee, Florida
Resting place	Tallahassee, Florida
Political party	Anti-Jacksonian (1835–1837) Whig (1837–onward)
Profession	attorney, judge, diplomat
Signature
Military service
Branch/service	South Carolina State Militia
Years of service	1832
Rank	brigadier general

Waddy Thompson, Jr. (January 8, 1798 – November 23, 1868) was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina and U.S. Minister to Mexico, 1842-44.

Born in Pickensville, Ninety-Six District, South Carolina—near Easley in present Pickens County—Thompson was reared in Greenville. He graduated from South Carolina College in 1814 when he was 16.

He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1819, beginning practice in Edgefield, South Carolina. He moved to Greenville, South Carolina, and continued the practice of law. He served as member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1826 to 1829. Thompson was elected solicitor of the western circuit in 1830.

He was appointed brigadier general of militia in 1832.

Thompson was elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the 24th United States Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Warren R. Davis. He was reelected as a Whig to the 25th and 26th Congresses and served from September 10, 1835, to March 3, 1841.

He served as chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs (26th Congress). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1840.

He was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico and served from February 10, 1842, to March 9, 1844.

He moved to Madison, Florida, and engaged in cotton planting. He was appointed solicitor general of a circuit in 1868.

He died while on a visit to Tallahassee, Florida, November 23, 1868 and interred in St. John's Episcopal Church Cemetery in Tallahassee.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Waddy Thompson Jr. (id: T000221)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Further reading

William Lee Miller (1996), Arguing about Slavery: The Great Battle in the United States Congress, New York: Knopf.

External links

• Texas State Historical Association - Waddy Thompson
• Southern Historical Collection at UNC-CH houses his papers while Envoy to Mexico
• Waddy Thompson Jr. at Find a Grave