William Thompson (viticulturist)

William Thompson () was a viticulturist. He emigrated to California (near Yuba City) in 1863 and developed the Thompson Seedless table grape (see Sultana), which is also used for grape juice and wine, as well as 95% of the raisins produced in California.

William Thompson was born in Wistow, Yorkshire, England in 1816. On the 1841 UK Census, he is described as 'Agricultural Labourer'. By the 1851 Census, he was 'Gardener of 9 acres (36,000 m²), employing 1 man'.

References

• Bond, Jay; Bond, De (1999). "The Thompson Family of Sutter County, California". Bond's Genealogy. Retrieved April 28, 2006.