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{{Short description|American railroad executive (1841–1899)}}
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'''Frank Thomson''' (1841 [[Chambersburg, PA]] - 1899 [[Merion, PA]]) was the 6th president of the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] (1897-99).
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox person
⚫
| name = Frank Thomson
| image = Frank Thomson.png
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1841|07|5|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Chambersburg, Pennsylvania]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1899|6|5|1841|7|5|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania
| known_for = President of [[Pennsylvania Railroad]]
| occupation = Railroad executive
| years_active = 1897-1899
| parents = [[Alexander Thomson (congressman)|Alexander Thomson]] (father)
| awards =
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}}

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'''Frank Thomson''' (1841–1899) was a railroad executive from the [[United States]], and the sixth president of the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] (PRR).

==Life==
⚫
[[File:P. R. R. shops Altoona, Pa. Rear view of erecting shop, from crane, by R. A. Bonine.jpg |thumb |right |Stereoscopic view of the PRR erecting shop at [[Altoona, Pennsylvania|Altoona]] (c. 1870s)]]
Frank Thomson was born in [[Chambersburg, Pennsylvania]] on July 5, 1841,{{sfnp|Burgess|Kennedy|1949|p=453}} the son of Judge [[Alexander Thomson (congressman)|Alexander Thomson]].<ref name="Bedford judge - bio">{{Cite web |title=Biographies of the law judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Bedford County |url=https://www.bedfordcountypa.org/courts/common_pleas_judges/history_of_judges/judges.php |access-date=2022-02-01 |website=Bedford County, Pennsylvania}}</ref> At age 17, Thomson became an apprentice in the [[Altoona Works|PRR machine shops]] in [[Altoona, Pennsylvania|Altoona]], and studied [[mechanical engineering]] there for four years. Thomson gained experience with restoring [[workshop|shops]], repair of [[rolling stock]] and machinery, the rebuilding of bridges and the construction of new roads and [[Electrical telegraph|telegraph]] lines.<ref name="nyt97">{{cite news |title= Frank Thompson |date= February 28, 1897 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1897/02/28/101100855.pdf |access-date= March 24, 2011 }}</ref> Later in his life, the press often commented he could both build a [[locomotive]] and act as its engineer.<ref name="nyt97"/>

He enlisted in the [[Union Army]] in 1861 during the [[American Civil War]], and served as chief assistant to [[Thomas A. Scott|Colonel Thomas A. Scott]], later the PRR's fourth president. As assistant to Scott, Thomson built railroads and bridges as well as directed the transport of troops and supplies. Thomson was relieved of military duty in June 1864, and appointed Superintendent of the Eastern Division of the [[Philadelphia and Erie Railroad]]. He served in this position until 1873, when he was appointed Superintendent of Motive Power of the PRR at Altoona, and in 1874, General Manager of the PRR system east of [[Pittsburgh]] and [[Erie, Pennsylvania|Erie]]. Under Thomson's management, the railroad saw equipment of a superior quality become the standard, as well as the building of picturesque stations.<ref name="nyt97"/> In 1874, Thomson was elected as a member to the [[American Philosophical Society]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=APS Member History|url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=1874&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced|access-date=2021-05-05|website=search.amphilsoc.org}}</ref>

He became a PRR vice-president in 1882, and was promoted to be the sixth president in 1897. Thomson instituted a system of [[Track (rail transport)|track]] inspection, and was said to be instrumental in standardizing track and roadbed.<ref name="nyt97"/>

Thomson had a daughter, Anne, and two sons, Frank G. and Clarke. He was also an avid outdoorsman, and struck up a friendship with William F. Cody, otherwise known as [[Buffalo Bill]], who took him buffalo hunting. Thomson hosted scores of distinguished European and American visitors at his hunting cabin at Corkerhill. He also served as director of the Equitable Life Assurance Society.

He died on June 5, 1899, in [[Merion, Pennsylvania]] after a two-week illness.<ref name="obit">{{cite news |title= Death of Frank Thompson: President of the Pennsylvania Railroad Expires Suddenly |date= June 6, 1899 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url= https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1899/06/06/118937888.pdf |access-date= March 24, 2011 }}</ref>

==Legacy==
Following his death, his children established the Frank Thomson Scholarship as a memorial to their father.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conrail.com/pdfs/Scholarships.pdf |title=The Frank Thomson Scholarship |last=Conrail}}</ref> Thomson had a lifelong interest in the education of the youth of his fellow employees, and he devoted himself to helping them obtain an education. Today, the Scholarship are offered annually to provide assistance toward tuition and additional necessary expenses for undergraduate study at generally recognized and accepted colleges and universities.

==See also==
* [[List of railroad executives]]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}


==References==
⚫
[[File:P. R. R. shops Altoona, Pa. Rear view of erecting shop, from crane, by R. A. Bonine.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Stereoscopic view of the PRR erecting shop at [[Altoona, PA]] (c. 1870s)]]
* {{cite book |last1=Burgess |first1=George H. |last2=Kennedy |first2=Miles C. |title=Centennial History of The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, 1846-1946 |location=Philadelphia |publisher=Pennsylvania Railroad Co. |date=1949 |oclc=499299}}
At age 17, Thomson became an apprentice in the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] machine shops in [[Altoona, PA]]. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1861, and served as chief assistant to [[Thomas A. Scott|Colonel Thomas A. Scott]], later the PRR's 4th president. Thomson was relieved of military duty in June 1864, and returned to the PRR. After heading a subsidiary railroad, he was put in charge of the PRR machine shops in Altoona, where he led efforts to standardize the PRR's tracks and cars. He became a PRR vice-president in 1882, and was promoted to president in 1897, but died after 2 years in office.
* {{cite journal |last=Railway World |title=Death of President Frank Thomson |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Si5CAQAAIAAJ&q=frank+thomson+philadelphia+railroad&pg=PA621 |journal=Railway World |volume=25 |issue=1 |date=June 10, 1899 |pages=621–624 }}


==External links==
==External links==
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*[http://archives.library.drexel.edu/archives/7 Frank Thomson Papers, at Drexel University Archives]
*[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9900EFDF1638E733A2575BC2A9649C94669ED7CF February 28, 1897 New York Times profile]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110718215923/http://www.conrail.com/Scholarships.pdf Frank Thomson Scholarship]
*[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=940DEFD81530EE32A25755C0A9609C94689ED7CF June 6, 1899 New York Times obituary]
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*[http://www.library.drexel.edu/archives/collections/mc00002.html Frank Thomson Papers, at Drexel University]


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{{Authority control}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

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| NAME = Thomson, Frank
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1841
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 1899
| PLACE OF DEATH =
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}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomson, Frank}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomson, Frank}}
[[Category:1841 births]]
[[Category:1841 births]]
[[Category:1899 deaths]]
[[Category:1899 deaths]]
[[Category:People of the Pennsylvania Railroad]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Railroad people]]
[[Category:19th-century American railroad executives]]
[[Category:19th-century American railroad executives]]
[[Category:Members of the Philadelphia Club]]

[[Category:People from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania]]

{{1840s-US-business-bio-stub}}
{{rail-bio-stub}}
Throughout his working life Frank was fondly known as the great chomper due to his wild and unique eating habits.

Latest revision as of 10:17, 11 October 2023

Frank Thomson
Born(1841-07-05)July 5, 1841
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
DiedJune 5, 1899(1899-06-05) (aged 57)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
OccupationRailroad executive
Years active1897-1899
Known forPresident of Pennsylvania Railroad
ParentAlexander Thomson (father)

Frank Thomson (1841–1899) was a railroad executive from the United States, and the sixth president of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR).

Life

[edit]
Stereoscopic view of the PRR erecting shop at Altoona (c. 1870s)

Frank Thomson was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on July 5, 1841,[1] the son of Judge Alexander Thomson.[2] At age 17, Thomson became an apprentice in the PRR machine shops in Altoona, and studied mechanical engineering there for four years. Thomson gained experience with restoring shops, repair of rolling stock and machinery, the rebuilding of bridges and the construction of new roads and telegraph lines.[3] Later in his life, the press often commented he could both build a locomotive and act as its engineer.[3]

He enlisted in the Union Army in 1861 during the American Civil War, and served as chief assistant to Colonel Thomas A. Scott, later the PRR's fourth president. As assistant to Scott, Thomson built railroads and bridges as well as directed the transport of troops and supplies. Thomson was relieved of military duty in June 1864, and appointed Superintendent of the Eastern Division of the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad. He served in this position until 1873, when he was appointed Superintendent of Motive Power of the PRR at Altoona, and in 1874, General Manager of the PRR system east of Pittsburgh and Erie. Under Thomson's management, the railroad saw equipment of a superior quality become the standard, as well as the building of picturesque stations.[3] In 1874, Thomson was elected as a member to the American Philosophical Society.[4]

He became a PRR vice-president in 1882, and was promoted to be the sixth president in 1897. Thomson instituted a system of track inspection, and was said to be instrumental in standardizing track and roadbed.[3]

Thomson had a daughter, Anne, and two sons, Frank G. and Clarke. He was also an avid outdoorsman, and struck up a friendship with William F. Cody, otherwise known as Buffalo Bill, who took him buffalo hunting. Thomson hosted scores of distinguished European and American visitors at his hunting cabin at Corkerhill. He also served as director of the Equitable Life Assurance Society.

He died on June 5, 1899, in Merion, Pennsylvania after a two-week illness.[5]

Legacy

[edit]

Following his death, his children established the Frank Thomson Scholarship as a memorial to their father.[6] Thomson had a lifelong interest in the education of the youth of his fellow employees, and he devoted himself to helping them obtain an education. Today, the Scholarship are offered annually to provide assistance toward tuition and additional necessary expenses for undergraduate study at generally recognized and accepted colleges and universities.

See also

[edit]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ Burgess & Kennedy (1949), p. 453.
  2. ^ "Biographies of the law judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Bedford County". Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Frank Thompson" (PDF). The New York Times. February 28, 1897. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  4. ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "Death of Frank Thompson: President of the Pennsylvania Railroad Expires Suddenly" (PDF). The New York Times. June 6, 1899. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
  6. ^ Conrail. "The Frank Thomson Scholarship" (PDF).

References

[edit]
  • Burgess, George H.; Kennedy, Miles C. (1949). Centennial History of The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, 1846-1946. Philadelphia: Pennsylvania Railroad Co. OCLC 499299.
  • Railway World (June 10, 1899). "Death of President Frank Thomson". Railway World. 25 (1): 621–624.
[edit]
Preceded by President of Pennsylvania Railroad
1897 – 1899 		Succeeded by
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