Skip to content

Biography · Biography & Culture

James Thompson

1799–1884

United States

BIOGRAPHYPortrait not availableExplore the life, work and source references.
Visit the source record ↗

Biography

James Thompson (1799–1884) was the first African-American settler in St. Paul, Minnesota and an English-Dakota interpreter for Methodist missionary Alfred Brunson. He was born enslaved but achieved his freedom in 1837.

Sources & collection details

Wikipedia contributors — original record ↗

Black heritage reference ↗

Biography text · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Continue exploring Series 1

Slavery, Resistance & Freedom →

Explore all Series 1 cards →