Advertising executive, born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA. He served in the Union navy in the Civil War. In 1867 he joined William Carlton's New York advertising agency, which he bought in 1878. He virtually created modern advertising, transforming it into a primary sales tool by persuading magazines and major clients of its respectability. His success in placing advertising in magazines made national product campaigns possible. He sold the agency in 1916, and devoted himself to other interests, such as yachting.
James Walter Thompson (28 October 1847–16 October 1928) was the namesake of the JWT advertising agency and a pioneer of many advertising techniques.
In 1864, while Thompson was serving in the Marine Corps, William James Carlton had started selling advertising space in religious magazines. Eventually Thompson found that soliciting and sales were much more profitable and he became a very effective salesman for the small company.
Realizing that he could sell more space if the company provided the service of developing content for advertisers, Thompson hired writers and artists to form the first known Creative Department in an advertising agency.
Thompson is responsible for some enduring brand images in popular culture, like the Rock of Gibraltar used for the Prudential Insurance Company.
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