While enlisted he began his journalism career, as a sports writer and editor for the Eglin Air Force Base Newsletter

Worked for Time magazine as a copy boy

Moved to Puerto Rico, where his experiences became the subject of his first completed novel, "The Rum Diary," written in 1959, but not published until 1998

Worked as a Caribbean correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune

Became the South American correspondent for the National Observer

Worked as the West Coast correspondent for Nation

First published book "Hell’s Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga," a fairly straightforward chronicle about the motorcycle gang, which Thompson had followed around for a year

Ran for sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado, on a Freak Power Party platform of decriminalizing drugs; he lost in a tight race

An account of a drug-fueled trip to cover a district attorneys' anti-drug conference as a writer for Rolling Stone magazine became his best-known work "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream"

Released a compilation of his Rolling Stone articles, "Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72"

Released the first volume of "Gonzo Papers," a collection of Watergate-era articles spanning the 1970’s, titled "The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales From a Strange Time"

Bill Murray portrayed Thompson in the film "Where the Buffalo Roam"

Began work as a media critic for the San Francisco Examiner, writing nearly 170 columns that eventually became his second volume of Gonzo Papers, "Generation of Swine"

Released volume three of the Gonzo Papers, "Songs of the Doomed," that included articles written from 1950-1990

Released his account of Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential win, "Better Than Sex: Confessions of a Political Junkie"

Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Torro starred in an adaptation of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," directed by Terry Gilliam

Wrote "Kingdom of Fear: Loathsome Secrets of a Star-Crossed Child in the Final Days of the American Century"

Wrote a Web column, "Hey Rube: Blood Sport, the Bush Doctrine, and the Downward Spiral of Dumbness Modern History from the Sports Desk," for ESPN

Died at his fortified compound in Woody Creek, Colorado, on February 20, 2005 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was 67 years old.

Subject of Alex Gibney's documentary, "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson"