Smith Thompson: The Political Jurist and the Balance of Power
Tenure of Office: January 1, 1819 - August 31, 1823
Explore the life of Smith Thompson, a transitional figure in American political history who served as Secretary of the Navy under U.S. President James Monroe before ascending to the Supreme Court. This episode analyzes his leadership style, contrasting his role as a trusted lieutenant focused on political patronage with his independence as a jurist who often challenged Chief Justice John Marshall. Discover how Thompson’s principled dissents and persistent political ambitions shaped the evolving legal landscape of the Early Republic. Sources used for this episode can be found at https://www.presidenciespodcast.com.
Special thanks to Gregg Gassman of the Popeular History Podcast for joining me for this episode!
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Birkner, Michael. Samuel L. Southard: Jeffersonian Whig. Cranbury, NJ; London; and Mississauga, ON: Associated University Presses, 1984.
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Cunningham, Noble E, Jr. The Presidency of James Monroe. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 1996.
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“Eliza Davenport Livingston Thompson Lansing (1805-1886).” Find a Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6079408/eliza_davenport-thompson_lansing. [Last Accessed: 5 Sep 2025]
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Johnson, Herbert A. The Chief Justiceship of John Marshall 1801-1835. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1997.
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Long, David F. Nothing Too Daring: A Biography of Commodore David Porter, 1783-1843. Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Institute, 1970.
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Mooney, Chase C. William H. Crawford: 1772-1834. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 1974.
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“Rachel Smith Thompson (1739-1804).” Find a Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35859670/rachel-thompson. [Last Accessed: 3 Oct 2025]
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“Richard Ray Lansing (1789-1855).” Find a Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125919768/richard_ray-lansing. [Last Accessed: 5 Sep 2025]
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Roper, Donald. “Smith Thompson.” The Supreme Court Justices: Illustrated Biographies, 1789-1995 Second Edition. Clare Cushman, ed. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Inc, 1995. pp 91-95.
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Roper, Donald M. “Thompson, Smith.” The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States. Kermit L Hall, ed. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992. pp 871-872.
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“Sarah Livingston Thompson (1777-1833).” Find a Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6079394/sarah-thompson. [Last Accessed: 27 Jun 2025]
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Sears, Alfred Byron. Thomas Worthington: Father of Ohio Statehood. Columbus, OH: Ohio State University Press, 1998.
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“Smith Thompson (1768-1843).” Find a Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5664/smith-thompson. [Last Accessed: 5 Sep 2025]
Featured Image: "Secretary of the Navy, Smith Thompson" [c. 1810s-1820s], courtesy of Wikipedia
