Gunfighter, Gambler and US Marshall  

Benjamin Thompson was born in Knottingley in 1843 to William and Mary, and was to be the eldest of their two sons and two daughters.  

Following in the footsteps of some their relatives the Thompson family migrated in 1851 to Austin, Texas which at that time was a small frontier town still liable to attack by Indian raiding parties.  

Although given a private education by a generous benefactor and starting work as a printer, Ben Thompson seems to have been destined for a much wilder life. He was not adverse to settling arguments violently and in 1861 readily joined the Confederate army during the American Civil War and then fought for the Spanish in Mexico.  

However, he was to become seduced by the potential rich pickings to be earned as a gambler, and along with his brother Billy he seems to have taken up gambling as a profession, eventually owning his own gambling halls. But his life was dogged by arguments which usually resulted in him shooting someone. It would appear he had a fiery temper which was probably exacerbated by excessive drinking.  

Despite a reputation as a gunman he had another side to him, that of devoted husband and father. He married a local farmer's daughter, Catherine Moore, in 1863 and had at least two surviving children. He tried to stay on the straight and narrow for the sake of his family, and was eventually elected the US Marshall for Austin. During his tenure the town developed a reputation as a peaceful place but Ben couldn't help himself and had to resign when he shot someone in nearby San Antonio.  

A colourful character indeed, Ben Thompson was a legendary figure in the old west. He crossed paths with Wild Bill Hickock, worked with Bat Masterton and caroused with Buffalo Bill Cody.  

In the end the violence of his life caught up with him when he was gunned down at a theatre in San Antonio in 1884 at the age of 40. There is contradictory evidence about what happened and no one was tried for his murder. 

Ben's brother, Billy, led a similarly colourful life, even more violent and reckless, although he did eventually quieten down and he died peacefully aged 52.