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 o…