William A. Thompson (1853-1913) was born and died in Concord, New Hampshire. He attended Bryant & Stratton Business College and married Ella J. Thompson (b. Teel) in Concord in 1874. In 1880 he opened a boot and shoe store in Concord, which eventually became one of the largest retail shoe stores in New Hampshire. He was a member of the Concord Building and Loan Association and served as its president for many years. Thompson was a member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Concord, New Hampshire. Each year, beginning in 1900 until her passing in 1910, Mary Baker Eddy purchased hundreds of shoes for underprivileged boys and girls from Thompson's shoe store. During the Concord State Fair on Children's Day, needy young fairgoers could visit Thompson's booth in the exhibition hall and receive a coupon for free footwear redeemable at his downtown store that would be purchased on Eddy's account.

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