Ben Thompson

About

Gunfighter and occasional sheriff of the Old West who worked with grand showman, Buffalo Bill Cody and gunmen Wild Bill Hickock.

Before Fame

He fought on the Confederate side of the American Civil War, and later worked as a mercenary for the emperor of Mexico.

Trivia

In 1881, he became marshal in Austin, Texas.

Family Life

His parents were William and Mary Ann Thompson. He had a younger brother, Billy, and a younger sister, Mary Jane. The family traveled on the ship Granada from Liverpool to the United States when Ben was eight years old.

Associated With

Buffalo Bill once gave him a custom-made, engraved Stevens-Lord No. 36 target pistol.