Newport in Campbell County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Tommygun Inventor
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 26, 2016
1. “Tommygun” Inventor Marker
Brig. Gen. John T. Thompson, USA, inventor of Thompson submachine gun, was born here in 1860. A West Point graduate of 1882, he was early advocate of automatic weapons and improved many small arms. Awarded Distinguished Service Medal as Director of Arsenals in World War I. General Thompson died in 1940, lamenting the notoriety of the Tommygun as a gangster weapon.
Erected 1981 by Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Department of Transportation. (Marker Number 1708.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Kentucky Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.
Location. 39° 5.623′ N, 84° 29.776′ W. Marker is in Newport, Kentucky, in Campbell County. It is on East Third Street near Monmouth Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 24 East Third Street, Newport KY 41071, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Outer Bluegrass. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Ohio River Valley. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dr. Thomas Hinde (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); St. Paul's Church (about 400 feet away); Campbell County, Kentucky World War II Monument (about 500 feet away); Newport ~~ War of 1812
this page online
More about this marker. Text on both sides of the marker is identical.
Also see . . . History of an Icon. Thompson Auto-Ordinance website entry (Submitted on August 17, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
via Thompson Auto Ordinance, Unknown
2. John Taliaferro Thompson and an early model
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 26, 2016
3. “Tommygun” Inventor Marker - Wide View with Thompson House as Background
The marker is visible on the left.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 22, 2016, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,399 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 22, 2016, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 2. submitted on August 17, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on September 22, 2016, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
