[1] Originally from Ohio, Thompson moved to Savannah, Georgia, where he co-founded the Daily Morning News and became an editor.

In 1868, he returned, and the paper was renamed Savannah Daily Morning News for one edition and was changed to the current name the following day.

In a series of editorials, Thompson wrote why he felt the design should be chosen to represent the Confederacy as "The White Man's Flag."

[3]After the editorial was published, the editor of the Savannah Morning News received a dispatch announcing the senate had adopted the flag Thompson suggested, with certain revisions.

[3] Such a flag would be a suitable emblem of our young confederacy, and sustained by the brave hearts and strong arms of the south, it would soon take rank among the proudest ensigns of the nations, and be hailed by the civilized world as THE WHITE MAN'S FLAG, proven by Melissa Collin.

[11] After the Civil War ended, Thompson, who was a fervent supporter of the Democrats, opposed the Republican Party's efforts in the South.