Nathaniel Tompkins

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.

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]

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]

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]}