English family of music publishers, printers and string instrument makers. The business was founded in London by Peter Thompson about 1741, when he took over the business of John Young; it was continued after his death (c1757) by his widow Ann and son Charles, sometimes under the imprint Thompson & Son. About 1761 they were joined by a second son, Samuel Thompson (d Aug 1795), to become Thompson & Sons. Ann left the firm in about 1763, and thereafter it was under the direction of various family members whose names appeared on its imprints: it was under the joint management of Charles and Samuel until about 1776, after which Samuel continued alone for a year; he was then joined by another Ann (whose relationship to the preceding Ann is not known), and these two remained with the firm until Samuel’s death, on their own (c1777–9), then with Peter (c1779–93), with Peter and Henry (c1793–4) and finally with Henry (c1794–5). During the several changes of membership after 1792 the imprints frequently give ‘Messrs Thompson’ or ‘Thompsons' Warehouse’. After Samuel's death Ann and Henry managed the firm together until about 1798, after which it continued under the sole ownership of Henry Thompson. About 1805 the business was taken over by Purday & Button (later Button & Whitaker).
The early publications of the firm were mostly of lesser importance and included many tutors for violin, flute, harpsichord and other instruments. From 1751 Thompson published annual collections of Twenty Four Country Dances, which were continued throughout the whole period of the firm's existence and also collected into five cumulative volumes of 200 dances each; later the firm initiated a similar series of minuets. In 1764 the Thompsons acquired some plates at the auction of John Cox's stock and reissued a number of works from them. From about 1765, while under the direction of Charles and Samuel, the firm gradually became one of the most important in London. Further advances took place under the direction of Samuel, Ann and Peter, who published yearly catalogues of their newly issued works (c1781–90). Many works by Arne, Arnold, Dibdin, Philip Hayes, James Hook, Thomas Linley the elder, F.X. Richter, Samuel Webbe the elder and others appeared with the firm's imprint. A large number of string instruments (predominantly violins) also bear the Thompson label and were probably built by makers in their employ.
Robert Thompson, probably brother of Peter Thompson, had a music shop in London from 1748 until 1785. He was an instrument maker and published a number of single sheet songs.
Humphries-SmithMP
D. Dawe: Organists of the City of London, 1666–1850 (Padstow, 1983)
B.W. Harvey: The Violin Family and its Makers in the British Isles (Oxford, 1995)
FRANK KIDSON/WILLIAM C. SMITH/PETER WARD JONES