Hunter S. Thompson

Birth Name: Hunter Stockton Thompson

Date of Birth: July 18, 1937

Place of Birth: Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

Date of Death: February 20, 2005

Place of Death: Woody Creek, Colorado, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, some Scottish, German, and 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. 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 Lawless). John was born in Kentucky. William was the son of Robert Stockton Thompson and America Hook. Semiramis was the daughter of Judge Burwell “Old Burr” Lawless and Sophia E. Gatewood.

Hunter’s paternal grandmother was Corrie L. Wheeler (the daughter of William H. Wheeler and Mollie/Mary Elizabeth Litsey). Corrie was born in Kentucky. William was the son of Martha Ann Brunk. 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 Springfield, Kentucky. James was the son of Presley Smith Ray and Beedy J. Stockton. Susanna was 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 Kentucky. Howard was the son of Nathaniel Dickerson Hunter and Caroline Herbst, whose father was German. Virginia was the daughter of John William Finnell and Elizabeth Tureman. 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