Thompson, William Hale (1867-1944), a controversial American political leader, was mayor of Chicago from 1915 to 1923 and from 1927 to 1931. He was nicknamed “Big Bill” because of his athletic build. Thompson became nationally known for his stands on issues. He at first opposed U.S. entry into World War I (1914-1918). In his second mayoral race, he supported the cause of Irish independence. During his 1927 campaign, he charged that British propaganda had spread into American textbooks on the Revolutionary War in America (1775-1783). In 1931, he lost his bid for a fourth term when he tried to stir anti-immigrant feeling against his opponent, Bohemian-born Anton J. Cermak. Thompson was born on May 16, 1867, in Boston, but he grew up in Chicago. He died on March 18, 1944.
