John Richardson Thompson (July 28, 1834 – February 12, 1894) was one of the eight founders of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, a fraternal organization in the United States.
[1] Thompson was born on July 28, 1834, in Littleton, New Hampshire and grew up on the family farm.
[1] He served in the American Civil War with the 15th Vermont Volunteers, rising to the rank of colonel.
[1] Following the war, he took a job at the United States Department of the Treasury, where he remained for many years.
[1] Thompson is believed to be the first to whom Oliver Hudson Kelley talked about his dream of setting up a fraternal organization of farmers.