Thompson was born in Lyndon, Vermont on February 21, 1821 to Samuel Rowell and Mary Atwood.
[1] She met the older millionaire Thomas Thompson during a visit, either of his to Lyndon, or hers to Boston in 1843, and they married in January 1844.
Her husband was an art collector and most of Thompson's philanthropic work didn't begin in earnest until after his death.
[2][3][4] Thompson used her new influence and finance to engage in the Temperance movement, Women's suffrage and charities.
[2][3][4] Thompson also gave the money for an astronomical observatory to Vassar College as well as funding research into Yellow fever.