Hunter S. Thompson Biography and Quotes
Born: July 18th, 1937
Commemoration: February 20th, 2005
Nationality: American
68
Years Old
Famously Known For
Hunter S. Thompson is credited for being the first person to embrace gonzo journalism. This is a kind of journalism whereby the journalist writes with no objective and may include themselves in the story. He wrote a book about his experiences riding with the infamous Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang.
Early Life
Thompson was born in Kentucky at a place known as Louisville. He had two other siblings and was the son to Virginia Ray Davidson and Jack Robert Thompson.
Personal Life
Thompson loved firearms and explosives. This is evident in his stories and articles he published in the dailies. He owned a variety of short guns, handguns automatic and semi-automatic weapons along with many homemade weapons. He was a strong supporter of the drug legalization movements of his time.
Career
Thompson got into the limelight in 1966 after publishing his book Hell’s Angel: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. This was his account of his experience of the time he spent riding along with an infamous motorcycle gang. The book was a huge success, and it led to him being tasked to write for many national newspapers and magazines.
He became an icon to many American movements in the 60s and 70s. In the 1970s ran for the position of a sheriff in Pitkin County with his main agenda being decriminalizing drugs. He is attributed by many people to have spearheaded gonzo journalism in the 70s.
In 1971 he published his next book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which was featured many times in the Rolling Stone Magazine.
His next book was Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, which was released in 1972. His letters became best sellers in the late 90s. He published the Rum Diary in 1998. By the beginning of the 21st century, he was regarded as an outstanding author and one of the best in his time.
Death
On the morning of February 25, 2005, the world woke up to the death of Thompson. He shot himself on the head.
Quotes by Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter S. Thompson Quotes