John Taliaferro was born in Newport, Kentucky back in 1860 to James and Maria. He attended Indiana University for a year before he was appointed to the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1882. After graduation, he was assigned to the 2nd Artillery as a second lieutenant. In 1890, he was moved to the Army’s Ordnance Department where he spent the remainder of his military career.
At the beginning of the Spanish-American War, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel assigned to Tampa, Florida as Chief Ordnance Officer. he arranged for the informal formation of a Gatling gun unit with fifteen of them along with a generous supply of ammunition which played a significant role in the Battle of San Juan Hill. I could write more about the man however that would be a three-day event. He retired from service as a Brigadier General in 1918. He died in 1940 at a young 79.
What you may not know about John Taliaferro Thompson is that he was the inventor of the Thompson submachine gun. That weapon was used extensively during WWII and beyond. Until tomorrow give someone a free gift of a smile.
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