Profile Text
Birth Name: Hunter Stockton Thompson
Date of Birth: July 18, 1937
Place of Birth: Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States
Date of Death: February 20, 2005
Place of Death: Woody Creek, Colorado, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, some Scottish, German, Irish, and Scots-Irish/Northern Irish
Hunter S. Thompson was an American journalist, author, and prominent countercultural figure. He is known for his books and/or collections Hell’s Angels , Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas , Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail ’72 , and The Gonzo Papers , and articles including “The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved.” He popularized the “Gonzo” journalist aspect of New Journalism, in which the author becomes a leading figure of the article; including having spent a year with the Hells Angels. He particularly addressed 1960s counter-culture, alcohol and drug abuse, and firearms, as well as contempt for authority figures. He often wrote for Rolling Stone, and later the San Francisco Examiner; as well as Playboy, Esquire, and ESPN. He was also known as Raoul Duke and HST. Stand-ins for Thompson have been played in films by actors including Bill Murray , Johnny Depp , and Ezra Miller .
Hunter was the son of Virginia Davison/Davidson (Ray) and Jack Robert Thompson, a public insurance adjuster, who had fought in WWI. He was partly raised in Cherokee Triangle, The Highlands, Kentucky. Hunter served in the U.S. Air Force, from 1955 to 1958. He was married to assistant Anita Bejmuk, until his death. Hunter had a son with his former wife Sandra Dawn Conklin/Sondi Wright.
Hunter’s paternal grandfather was John Donan/Dorian “Jack” Thompson (the son of William Blakey Thompson and Semiramis/Lawrencia Lawless). John was born in Munfordville, Hart County, Kentucky. William was born in Hart, the son of Robert Stockton Thompson and America Hook. Hunter’s great-grandmother Semiramis was born in Grayson, Kentucky, the daughter of Judge Burwell “Old Burr” Lawless and Sophia E. Gatewood.
Hunter’s paternal grandmother was Corrie Lee Wheeler (the daughter of Colonel William H. Wheeler and Mollie/Mary Elizabeth Litsey). Corrie was born in Upton, Hardin County, Kentucky, to parents who were also born in the state. William was the son of Martha Ann Brunk. Hunter’s great-grandmother Mollie was the daughter of Davis Litsey and Rebecka/Rebecca Day.
Hunter’s maternal grandfather was Presley/Prestly/Preston Stockton Ray (the son of James Stockton Ray and Susanna Starling Stites/Davison). Presley was born in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. James was born in Springfield, Kentucky, the son of Presley Smith Ray and Beedy J. Stockton. Hunter’s great-grandmother Susanna was born in Springfield, the daughter of Edmund Lynn Davison and Mary Cameron Stites.
Hunter’s maternal grandmother was Lucile/Lucille Hunter (the daughter of Howard Wallace Hunter and Virginia Elizabeth Finnell). Lucile was born in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Howard was born in Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky, the son of Nathaniel Dickerson Hunter and Caroline Herbst, whose father was German. Hunter’s great-grandmother Virginia was born in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky, the daughter of Gen. John William Finnell, who was Adjutant General of Kentucky, from 1861 to 1863; and of Elizabeth S. Tureman. Gen. John’s maternal grandmother was born in Ireland. Hunter was said to have been descended from distinguished Scottish surgeon John Hunter (1728 – 1793) through his Hunter line. It is not clear if this is accurate.
Sources: Genealogies of Hunter S. Thompson – http://www.wargs.com https://www.geni.com https://www.findagrave.com https://www.wikitree.com https://gw.geneanet.org