Following the American Civil War , Thompson served as judge of the 18th Circuit Court of the state of Indiana from 1867 to 1869 . Active in Republican politics , he was the Platform Committee chairman at the 1868 Republican National Convention in Chicago , he offered Vice President Schuyler Colfax 's name for renomination at the 1872 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia , and gave the nominating speech for Oliver H. P. Morton for President at the 1876 Republican National Convention in Cincinnati . In 1877 , President Rutherford B. Hayes appointed him Secretary of the Navy ; and he held that office until December 1880
1868 Republican National Convention
1868 Republican National Convention
Richard W. Thompson