Introduction

Biography

Alexander was the son of Will­iam Ro­bert Thomp­son and Ja­nette Nex­sen; hus­band of Ma­ry Car­pen­ter (mar­ried Oc­to­ber 26, 1848); and grand­son of Re­vo­lu­tion­ary War of­fi­cer Cap­tain Al­ex­an­der Thomp­son, and of New York mer­chant Eli­as Nex­sen.

He was edu­cat­ed at New York Uni­ver­si­ty (AB 1842, AM 1849, DD 1866) and Prince­ton Theological Se­mi­na­ry (1842–45).

He was or­dained and en­tered the min­is­try of the Re­formed Dutch Church in 1845.

He worked as an ed­it­or and au­thor; pre­si­dent of the Re­formed Dutch Church Pub­li­ca­tion Board; and mem­ber of the Coun­cil of New York Uni­vers­ity, 1872–91.

He served va­ri­ous pas­tor­ates, in­clud­ing East Brook­lyn; St. Paul’s (R.P.D.), New York Ci­ty; the North Re­formed Church, Brook­lyn (1874); Mor­ris­town, New Jer­sey; Bridge­port, Con­nec­ti­cut, and Sta­ten Is­land, New York.

During the Am­eri­can ci­vil war, he helped raise troops, not­ably the 17th Con­nec­ti­cut Vol­un­teer In­fan­try. He was also a chap­lain with the rank of cap­tain on the staff of Gov­er­nor An­drews of Mas­sa­chu­setts; Chap­lain of the New Eng­land Re­lief Rooms in New York Ci­ty (1863–65), and of Roo­se­velt Hospital (1873–95).

Thompson was joint ed­it­or of the Re­formed Dutch Hymns of the Church (New York: 1869) and Hymns of Pray­er and Praise (1871). He con­trib­ut­ed orig­in­al hymns and trans­la­tions from the La­tin to these col­lect­ions, to Schaff’s Christ in Song (1869), and to the Sun­day School Times (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: 1883).