Waddy THOMPSON, Jr., Congress, SC (1798-1868)

THOMPSON, Waddy, Jr., a Representative from South Carolina; born in Pickensville (now Pickens), Ninety-sixth District, S.C., January 8, 1798; moved to Greenville with his parents in his infancy; received his early education in neighboring schools, and was graduated from South Carolina College (now the University of South Carolina), at Columbia in 1814; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1819 and began practice in Edgefield, S.C.; moved to Greenville, S.C., and continued the practice of law; member of the State house of representatives, 1826-1829; elected solicitor of the western circuit in 1830; brigadier general of militia in 1832; elected as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-fourth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Warren R. Davis; reelected as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Congresses and served from September 10, 1835, to March 3, 1841; chairman, Committee on Military Affairs (Twenty-sixth Congress); was not a candidate for renomination in 1840; appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Mexico and served from February 10, 1842, to March 9, 1844; moved to Madison, Fla., and engaged in cotton planting; appointed solicitor general of a circuit in 1868; died while on a visit to Tallahassee, Fla., November 23, 1868; interment in the Episcopal Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present