Colonel William Thompson

Born in 1846, William Thompson became known as a journalist, newspaper editor, and Civil War correspondent. During the war he reported from the field for the Chicago Tribune, building a reputation for sharp, immediate writing at a time when war news reached the public slowly and at great risk.

After the war, he remained active in Illinois journalism and public life. He was associated with major newspapers, including the Chicago Times and the Illinois State Register, and was also involved in politics and government service.

He is remembered in part for his memoir A Reporter’s Recollections, which looks back on the people and events he witnessed across a long career in American journalism. The book is especially valued for its lively, firsthand perspective on the Civil War era and the newspaper world that helped shape public opinion.