Home > William Hale Thompson

Big Bill Thompson was the last Republican to serve as mayor of Chicago. Thompson was born in Boston, but his family moved to Chicago when he was only nine days old. Instead of college, he traveled in Europe and then took up ranching in Texas and New Mexico, returning to Chicago in 1892Events January 1 Ellis Island begins accepting immigrants to the United States. January 14 Death of Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, second in line heir to the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Next in line is his younger b after his father's death. Early in his political career, Thompson began to amass a war chest to support an eventual run for the Presidency by charging city drivers and inspectors $3 per month. After being defeated in 1923, Thompson organized a "scientific" expedition to search for tree-climbing fish in the South Seas. In 1927, Al CaponeAlphonse Gabriel Capone ( January 17, 1899 January 25, 1947) more popularly known as Al 'Scarface' Capone was a famous American gangster in the 1920s and 1930s, although his business card is reported to have said he was a used furniture dealer. A Sicilian's support of Thompson allowed the man to return to the mayor's office. Pledging to clean up Chicago and remove the crooks, Thompson turned his attention to the reformers, who he saw as the real criminals. According to Thompson, at this time the biggest enemy the United States had was King George VGeorge V (George Frederick Ernest Albert) ( 3 June 1865- 20 January 1936) was the last British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, changing the name to the House of Windsor in 1917. As well as being King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and I of EnglandEngland is the largest, the most populous, and the most densely populated of the four " Home Nations" which make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). Occupying the south-eastern portion of the island of Great Britain, England. Thompson promised his supporters that if they ever met, Thompson would punch the King in the nose. During this final term in office, the " Pineapple PrimaryPineapple Primary was the name given to a Republican primary election held in Chicago on April 10, 1928 in which more than 60 bombs were thrown and politicians were killed. On March 21, Guiseppe "Diamond Joe" Esposito, the 19th Ward committeeman was shot" occurred ( April 10April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). There are 265 days remaining. April Tenth" is also a song by the band Garbage. It was released on the B-side of the "Shut Your Mouth" single from the beautifulgarbage a, 1928), so called because of the bombs used to intimidate politicians. The St. Valentine's Day Massacre also took place while Thompson was mayor. Upon Thompson's death, two safe deposit boxes in his name were discovered to contain nearly $1.5 million in cash.