John Thompson
Private John B. Thompson was a surveyor from Indiana who served in the Corps of Discovery. He was a dependable member of the expedition who participated in various duties throughout the journey. Thompson was among those who voted on the winter campsite location at the Pacific coast. Little is known of his life after the expedition's return in September 1806.
Biography
John B. Thompson was a private in the Corps of Discovery who served competently throughout the entire expedition. He was a surveyor by training, which may have assisted with the expedition’s mapping work.
Thompson is infrequently mentioned in the expedition journals, suggesting he performed his duties without notable incident — in many ways the ideal soldier. He participated in the full round-trip journey and received the standard pay and land warrant upon return.
After the expedition, Thompson’s life is poorly documented. He may have returned to surveying work in the frontier territories.
