Nathaniel Tompkins
American judge and politician (1879–1949)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nathaniel Tompkins (May 17, 1879 – April 22, 1949) was an American politician and jurist from Maine. He served in the Maine Senate and Maine House of Representatives. He was also a justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.
Nathaniel Tompkins | |
|---|---|
| Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court | |
| In office July 27, 1945 – April 22, 1949 | |
| Member of the Maine Senate | |
| In office 1939–1941 | |
| Member of the Maine House of Representatives | |
| In office 1931–1936 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 17, 1879 |
| Died | April 22, 1949 (aged 69) Houlton, Maine, US |
| Party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Colby College Harvard Law School |
| Profession | Attorney |
Early life
Tompkins was born in Bridgewater, Maine on May 17, 1879.[1] His parents were Emma F. (née Sargent) and Nathaniel Tompkins.[1]
Tompkins studied at the Ricker Classical Institute. He graduated from Colby College and Harvard Law School.[2] While at Colby, he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon.[1]
Career
Tompkins established a private law practice in Houlton, Maine. He was president of the Houlton Savings Bank.[2] He served on the Houlton's board of selectment from 1912 to 1913.[3]
As a Republican, Tompkins was elected to five terms in the Maine Legislature, including three in the Maine House of Representatives and two in the Maine Senate.[1] During his tenure in the House, he served as House Speaker from 1935 to 1936.[1][2] In 1938, he was elected to the Maine Senate. After being re-elected in 1940, Tompkins elected senate president for 1941.[4][2]
Governor Sumner Sewall appointed Tompkins to superior court on September 2, 1941, mid-way through his term as senate president.[2][3] Four years later, on July 27, 1945, Governor Horace Hildreth appointed Tompkins to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.[2][1] Tompkins served in that position until he died in 1949.[1]
Personal life
Tompkins married Ragnhild L. Iversen on June 17, 1913.[1] They were the parents of daughter Sigrid E. Tompkins, who also became a lawyer.[1][2] Tompkins was a Freemanson.[1]
Tompkins died on April 22, 1949 in the Aroostook County Courthouse in Houlton, Maine, at the age of 69.[1][2]