Ralph Willmett Thompson was the son of Ralph Swinbanks (Master Mariner) and Elizabeth Rabbett Thompson. His unusual middle name, which is actually recorded in the admissions register as Willarett, was his mother's maiden name.

He attended the High School for only a little more than a year, leaving in 1902 to be an engineer, although it isn't known where he studied.

He is known to have served with the Midlothian Regiment. with the rank of Lieutenant from 19-Feb-1917.

In 1919 he filed for a patent with the US Patent Office for a "Machine for Casting Metals," which was awarded in May-1921.

At about the same time, an international metal trading consortium called "Consortium de Castro Mesler & Co" was being set up, and Ralph was listed as director of the Scottish brank and the contact for any enquiries for trading with South America.

He is listed as "Consulting Engineer", and a member of various metal engineering institutions.

By the 1940s he had his own auctioneering and valuation company, "Ralph W Thompson & Partners", providing professional company valuation services and auctioneering facilities., although this partnership (with Ernest Whitmore) was dissolved in 1955.

Ralph died in 1972 in Hampshire.