Thompson, Ambrose W.

Businessman.

From the description of Papers of Ambrose W. Thompson, 1847-1960 (bulk 1860-1882). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71010066

Biographical Note

• 1811, May 23: Born, Lewes, Del.
• 1851: Petitioned Congress for federal aid for the establishment of Atlantic and Pacific lines for carrying mail
• 1854: Received land and road grant from the province of Chiriquí government, Panama Incorporated the Central American Mining Co. in Pennsylvania; changed the name to the Chiriqui [sic] Improvement Co. with himself as president Attempted to interest the U.S. Government in naval coaling stations and mail service across the Isthmus at Chiriquí
• 1859: Incorporated National Steamship Co. in New Jersey with himself as president
• 1860 - 1863 : Promoted the Metropolitan Railroad scheme for a line between Point of Rocks, Md., and the District of Columbia
• 1861 - 1864 : Proposed to Congress and President Abraham Lincoln the resettlement of freed slaves in Chiriquí
• 1864 - 1866 : Traveled in England and on the Continent in search of financial backing for a proposed steamship line from New York to California via the isthmus, and development of coal mines in Chiriquí 1868 Elected member, Board of Directors, West Shore Hudson River Railroad Co.
• 1869: Incorporated the International Steamship Co. in New Jersey with himself as president
• 1876 - 1882 : Revived efforts to establish naval and coaling stations at Chiriquí as well as service through the region to the West Coast of the U.S.
• 1877: Elected President, Brooklyn, Coney Island & Rockaway Railroad Co.
• 1882, May 27: Died

From the guide to the Ambrose W. Thompson Papers, 1847-1960, (bulk 1860-1882), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)