j. walter thompson, also known as james walter thompson, was an american advertising pioneer. he was born in pittsfield, massachusetts, on october 28, 1847. in 1864, he started working for carlton & smith, an advertising agency, as a bookkeeper. he eventually became a solicitor and salesman for the agency. in 1877, thompson bought the agency and renamed it the james walter thompson company. under his leadership, the agency became one of the largest and most successful advertising agencies in the world. thompson is credited with developing many innovative advertising techniques and strategies,…