15 Facts About Maurice Thompson

James Maurice Thompson was an American novelist, poet, essayist, archer and naturalist.

James Maurice Thompson was born in 1844 in the former town of Fairfield, Indiana, located in Franklin County to a Baptist minister and his wife.

Maurice Thompson was educated by tutors in the classical languages, literature, French and mathematics; he used his mathematical training to advantage by becoming a civil engineer.

Maurice Thompson lived in Calhoun for two years, and began publishing the first of his articles while living there.

In 1867 Maurice Thompson began a botanical and ornithological survey of Lake Okeechobee in Florida.

Maurice began working as an engineer on a railroad being built in the area, and the Thompson brothers married sisters.

In 1873 Maurice Thompson resumed submitting articles for publication, after which he undertook a series of articles on archery.

Maurice Thompson was published in New York Tribune, Atlantic Monthly, and Harper's Monthly.

Maurice Thompson was elected to the Indiana State Legislature in 1879.

Maurice Thompson became well known as a local colorist, with works ranging from local history to archery.

Maurice Thompson's first book, Hoosier Mosaics, published in 1875, was a collection of short stories illustrating the people and atmosphere of small Indiana towns.

Maurice Thompson followed it with a successful compilation of his published essays, The Witchery of Archery, which was well received for its wit and use of common language.

At this same time, Maurice Thompson published several collections of naturalistic poetry, though they weren't well received at the time.

Maurice Thompson wrote the poem "To the South" that was reprinted in George Washington Cable's influential and controversial essay, "The Freedmen's Case in Equity" in 1885.

Maurice Thompson died shortly after publication of Alice of Old Vincennes, on February 15,1901, of pneumonia, aged 56.