Hugh Smith Thompson served as the South Carolina State Superintendent of Education from 1876 to 1884.

He is known as the father of South Carolina’s modern public school system and the only professional educator to serve as governor.

Thompson laid the foundations for the development of the state’s public school system. As superintendent, he helped win passage of the 1878 school law that centralized management of the school system in a state board of commissioners. He worked to equalize expenditures for white and black schools, established summer teachers’ institutes in 1880, and was responsible for the creation of the State Teachers’ Association in 1881. His greatest achievement was winning mass support for public education and support for blacks, in particular, against a tradition of public hostility, apathy, and prejudice.

He also believed that it was extremely necessary for South Carolina to have well-trained teachers. He emphasized that in no other profession did people try to practice without training, and he reminded his supporters that teaching was one of the finest professions in the world.

Thompson continued his advocacy of educational improvement, support for civil service and tax reform, and called for a rigid economy in government. He was appointed assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury by President Grover Cleveland on June 28, 1886 and resigned the governorship on July 10.

Thompson served as principal of the Columbia Male Academy from 1865 until 1880. During his tenure, he forged the institution into one of the state’s premier preparatory schools, and it became universally known as “Thompson’s school.”

He died in New York City on November 20, 1904.