Background
Thompson, Robert Means was born on March 2, 1849 in Corsica, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Judge John Jay Y. and Agnes McClure (Kennedy) T, and Grandson and g.g.s. of ministers of Presbyterian Church.
chairman navy officer organizer president
Thompson, Robert Means was born on March 2, 1849 in Corsica, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Judge John Jay Y. and Agnes McClure (Kennedy) T, and Grandson and g.g.s. of ministers of Presbyterian Church.
Graduated from the United States Naval Academy, 1868. Ensign, 1869, master, 1871, resigned, October 1871. Admitted to bar, 1872.
Bachelor of Laws, Harvard, 1874.
Doctor of Laws, George Washington University, and Washington and Jefferson College, 1921.
He is the namesake of the destroyer United States Ship Thompson (Doctor of Divinity-627). He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy on 30 July 1864. Graduating tenth in the class of 1868, Thompson first went to sea in Contoocook in the West Indian Squadron.
He later served in Franklin, Richmond, and Guard of the Mediterranean Squadron.
As well as in United States Ship Wachusett and at the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island. Commissioned ensign on 19 April 1869, and promoted to master on 12 July 1870, he resigned from the Navy on 18 November 1871, to study law in his brother"s office.
He later became interested in mining and smelting enterprises, by which he earned his fortune. He was president of Orford Copper, which later merged into the International Nickel Company of Canada, of which he served as chairman.
His interest in sport then extended to the Olympic Games, and was twice president of the American Olympic Association, once for the 1912 Summer Olympics, and again for the 1924 games.
In 1912, he was also elected president of the New York Athletic Club. He also helped to organize the New York Chapter of the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and served as its first president and as a trustee of the Naval Academy Alumni Association at Annapolis, Maryland. Thompson was president of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and president of the Navy League.
He also received the Order of Vasa by the government of Sweden, and the Cross of Commander, French Legion of Honor, by the French government.
He was active in MOLLUS affairs and was elected commander in chief October 27, 1927, and served in that capacity until his death. He was also a companion of the Naval Order of the United States.
He co-edited the Confidential Correspondence of Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for the Navy Historical Society. Robert Means Thompson was married to Sarah Gibbs, daughter of Rhode Island governor, William C. Gibbs.
They had one daughter, Sarah Gibbs Thompson.
Thompson subsequently practiced law in Boston and was a member of the Boston Common Council from 1876 to 1878.
Married Sarah, daughter