Ben Thompson, Indian fighter, Texas Ranger, Rebel cavalry, hired gun, lawman, gambler, gunfighter.

Ben Thompson was a remarkable man, and few Texans can claim to have crowded more excitement, danger, drama, and tragedy into their lives than he did. He was an Indian fighter, Texas Ranger, Confederate cavalryman, mercenary for a foreign emperor, hired gun for a railroad, an elected lawman, professional gambler, and the victor of numerous gunfights.
As a leading member of the Wild West’s sporting element, Ben Thompson spent most of his life moving in the unsavory underbelly of the West: saloons, dance-houses, billiard halls, bordellos, and gambling dens. During these travels many of the Wild West’s most famous icons-Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, Wild Bill Hickok, John Wesley Hardin, John Ringo, and Buffalo Bill Cody-became acquainted with Ben Thompson. Some of these men called him a friend; others considered him a deadly enemy.
In life and in death no one ever doubted Ben Thompson’s courage; one Texas newspaperman asserted he was “perfectly fearless, a perfect lion in nature when aroused.” This willingness to trust his life to his expertise with a pistol placed Thompson prominently among the western frontier’s most flamboyant breed of men: gunfighters.
THOMAS C. BICKNELL, CHUCK PARSONS
JOIN NOW: wildwesthistor...
To view more like this: / wildwesthistoryassocia... .
Please comment, like, and subscribe!
Wild West History Association
🖥️ Visit our website: www.wildwesthi...
👍 Like us on Facebook: / 297188461422
KZbin: / wildwesthistoryassocia...
Instagram

[@ComeAndTakeItTX1835]

My 5th great grandparents are Green and Sarah DeWitt, founders of Gonzales and the DeWitt Colony. I had a 4th great grandfather Isham “Ice” Green Jones who was with Terrys Texas Rangers in the Civil War. Texas history is my thing needless to say, and the history of Thompson and King Fisher always intrigued me and the details of their deaths always eluded me as well. Thank you very much sir!

[@kurthouse744]

Ben Thompson is an under-rated gunfighter who deserves more study. Unlike Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid, Bat Masterson and many others, he is not well known nor are some of the details of his life clearly understood. However, one advantage is that he did leave a few artifacts behind, and these personal items used by him to create history are highly valued, especially in Texas where he spent most of his time. The recent biography by Bicknell and Parsons, Ben Thompson: Portrait of A Gunfighter (2018) is the best ever. Even so, there are still opportunities for the dedicated researcher, such as details of Thompson's early life, the identity of H. E. Parker, Thompson's time in Abilene, and finally, the biggest mystery of all, how did he get killed at the Vaudeville Theatre with his friend, noted Texas gunfighter King Fisher in San Antonio in 1884. The Wild West History Association welcomes interested parties and researchers, because not only are there mysteries to be solved, but lots of fun to be had!

[@ardendorney3174]

Very interesting.

[@MontieCarolMontgomery]

I am Ben Thompson's Great-great niece and Billy Thompson's Great-great granddaughter. Thanks for this video. I've done a lot of research on the Thompsons (specifically Libby aka Squirrel Tooth Alice, who was Billy's wife and my Great-great grandmother. Would love to talk to you.

[@WildWestHistoryAssociation]

Can you Facebook message me with phone number or give me your email, and I will send it to Kurt.

[@louisianagray8618]

I thank you sir that was a very interesting story

[@kurthouse744]

Glad that you liked, due to time limits, I omitted much, but hit the highlights.

[@r.shanethompson7933]

Ben was gifted a single shot Stevens target pistol as a gift after beating Buffalo Billy Cody in a shooting contest while City Marshal in Austin. Are the whereabouts of that gun known today?

[@WildWestHistoryAssociation]

I will contact the author.

[@kurthouse744]

Yes, that Stevens Lord target pistol, engraved with ivory is known and presently in the hands of a collector (non-Texan) who wishes to remain anonymous and the gun is not for sale. The gun is illustrated in several gun books and personally presented to Thompson from Buffalo Bill, so unlike many claims it has first rate provenance.

[@r.shanethompson7933]

@@kurthouse744 thank you for the information Mr.House. I should have known if anyone knew it'd be you. I enjoyed the video very much.

[@kurthouse744]

@@r.shanethompson7933 Well thanks Shane, I am still learning, but that gun is great.

[@JohnnieDelong]

Good grief, you say Ben was born in 1942 and family move from England in 1952. How can he be a gun fighter from the old west? Did your tounge want to say 18 and not 19?

[@WildWestHistoryAssociation]

Kurt states 1842 and 1851.

[@carywest9256]

Learn to spell tongue,before you start correcting others!

[@JohnnieDelong]

@@carywest9256 Does that somehow change the facts?