J. Walter Thompson Company

Founded in 1864, the J. Walter Thompson Company became one of the earliest and most influential advertising agencies in the United States. James Walter Thompson joined the business in the 1860s, bought it in 1877, and built it into an international firm known for combining copy, art, media, and market research in ways that helped define the modern agency model.

Over time, the company worked with many major brands and earned a reputation for innovation, including early expansion into overseas markets and a strong role in the development of magazine advertising. Its long history made it a familiar name in the industry for generations.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, the company became part of larger advertising networks. It was later folded into Wunderman Thompson, and in 2023 WPP announced that Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R would merge to form VML, marking another chapter in the evolution of the JWT legacy.