Researching Richard Thompson

Thompson first gained prominence in the late 1960s as the lead guitarist and songwriter for the folk rock group Fairport Convention, which he had co-founded in 1967. After departing the group in 1971, Thompson released his debut solo album Henry the Human Fly in 1972. The next year, he formed a duo with his then-wife Linda Thompson, which produced six albums, including the critically acclaimed I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974) and Shoot Out the Lights (1982). After the dissolution of the duo, Thompson revived his solo career with the release of Hand of Kindness in 1983. He has released a total of eighteen solo studio albums. Three of his albumsRumor and Sigh (1991), You? Me? Us? (1996), and Dream Attic (2010)have been nominated for Grammy Awards, while Still (2015) was his first UK Top Ten album. He continues to write and record new material regularly and had frequently performed at venues throughout the world, although the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to suspend his touring.

Music critic Neil McCormick described Thompson as "a versatile virtuoso guitarist and a sharp observational singer-songwriter whose work burns with intelligence and dark emotion". His songwriting has earned him an Ivor Novello Award and, in 2006, a lifetime achievement award from BBC Radio. His 1991 song "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" was included in Time magazine's "All Time 100 Songs" list of the best English-language musical compositions released between 1923 and 2011. Thompson was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to music. Many varied musicians have recorded Thompson's compositions.

In 2021, his book Beeswing: Losing my Way and Finding my Voice, 1967-1975 was released. Published by Algonquin Books, it is mainly a memoir of his life as a musician from 1967 to 1975.

Thompson studied at Louisiana State University (LSU) and broke the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) indoor 60 metres record in 2008, his final season of collegiate athletics.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Thompson was the silver medalist in the 100 meters, running a then personal best of 9.89 seconds, and the 4x100 meters relay along with Emmanuel Callender, Keston Bledman and Marc Burns. He also won the silver medal in the 4x100 meters at the 2012 Olympics with the same team he competed in the 2008 Olympics with. Also in the 2012 Olympics, he finished 6th following the disqualification of Tyson Gay in the final of the 100 meters. Thompson is a five time Trinidad and Tobago national champion. His current personal best of 9.82 was set at the 2014 Trinidad and Tobago national championships.

In 2017, fellow sprinter and 2008 Olympic Games men's relay gold medalist Nesta Carter was sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee for doping at the 2008 event, retroactively awarding the Trinidad and Tobago team which included Thompson Olympic Gold.

He studied medicine at Oxford University and St Thomas' Hospital, and specialised in gastroenterology. He conducted research with Prof Roger Williams, and at the Mayo Clinic. He was appointed consultant at St Thomas' from 1972 until his retirement in 2005. He continued to conduct research in nutritional gastroenterology. From 1982 until 2005 he was also attached to King Edward VII's Hospital Sister Agnes. He was a member of the Medical Household of Elizabeth II, and head from 1993 until 2005. He received a knighthood in 2003, when he became KCVO.

From 2003 until 2010 he acted as treasurer to the Royal College of Physicians, and in 2010 was elected to succeed Ian Gilmore as president (PRCP). He was re-elected in 2013. In 2014 Professor Jane Dacre was elected as his successor.

He was born at Paeroa in New Zealand to miner Leslie Foster Thompson and Caroline Walker. His parents returned to Australia when he was two and he attended state schools before completing his education at Newington College (1922–1924). In his final year he was a member of the 1st XV Rugby, 1st VIII Rowing and 1st Debating Team. The Richard Thompson Memorial Debating Prize is awarded at Newington in his memory. After school he worked with Sun Newspapers Limited and later became a business consultant.

Thompson was a Fellow of the Royal Economic Society and served as Chairman of City of Sydney Eisteddfod in 1946 and President of the Australian Debating Union from 1949 until 1964. He was a member of the council of Newington College from 1948 until 1964 and was President of the Old Newingtonians' Union in 1952 and 1953. He was a councillor of Leigh College and the Central Methodist Mission. Socially, he was a member of the Australian Club and was known as Laddie. On 19 March 1934 he married Constance Olive Mayhew, with whom he had two children.

From 1940 to 1964 he was a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Although he was re-elected for the term beginning in 1964, he died before parliament resumed at Balgowlah.