William Thompson 1680?-1744

William THOMPSON 1680?-1744

Thompson's bookplate (British Museum Franks Collection *249)

Biographical Note

Son of Francis Thompson, MP, of York, from whom he inherited the family estates in 1693. Matriculated at St John's College, Oxford 1695, but did not graduate; he went on to live as a country gentleman, with an estate at Humbleton, Yorkshire. He was MP for Scarborough from 1701, and held various local administrative offices.

Books

Thompson used an engraved armorial bookplate, dated 1702 (Franks 29301/*249). The extent and disposition of his library is not known; his lengthy will has no mention of books, and much of his estate was inherited by William Thompson, his "cousin German".

Sources

• Will of William Thompson, the National Archives PROB 11/735/26.
• History of Parliament.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903-4.