Program

NYS Historic, Pomeroy Education Program

Subject

Cemetery, People

Location

342 South Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, USA

Lat/Long

41.685284, -73.930941

Grant Recipient

Millbrook Historical Society

Hon. Smith Thompson was born on January 17, 1768, likely in Dutchess County. It was reported in his obituary that Thompson had studied law and then began public life as a District Attorney in 1801 for what was known at the time as the “middle district” of NY. Later in 1801 there were two vacancies on the NY State Supreme Court, and Thompson became an associate Judge. In 1804 he became the Chief Justice for the NY State Supreme Court (Brooklyn Evening Star, December 21, 1843).

In November 1818, Thompson was appointed to be Secretary of the Navy, a position he began starting in January of 1819 (Western Spy and Literary Cadet, November 23, 1818). He held this position until 1823 when he was appointed to the U. S. Supreme Court as an associate Justice (Poughkeepsie Journal, September 10, 1823). Although he was “persuaded” to run for governor of NY in 1829 against Martin Van Buren (8^th U. S. President), he lost and remained as a U. S. Supreme Court Justice until his death in 1843 (Brooklyn Evening Star, December 21, 1843). Smith Thompson passed away on December 18, 1843 (Poughkeepsie Journal, February 21, 1892).

Thompson’s 54-acre estate in Poughkeepsie was purchased by the Board of Directors of the Cemetery Association in May of 1853 (Poughkeepsie Eagle, May 14, 1853). By October the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery had its dedication ceremony, opening to the public (October 22, 1853). Thompson and both his first and second wives, Sarah and Elizabeth, are buried in the cemetery.