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Peter Tompkins

1919 – 2007

American journalist

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About Peter Tompkins

Lived 1919 – 2007 (aged 87). Peter Tompkins was an American writer, journalist, biologist and spy.

Peter Tompkins (April 19, 1919 – January 23, 2007) was an American journalist, World War II Office of Strategic Services (OSS) spy in Rome, and best-selling author.

Biography Tompkins was born in Athens, Georgia, and later travelled to Rome, where he learned Italian. In 1941, he absconded from Italy and repatriated to the United States, where he served as a war correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune and CBS during World War II. In 1943 he was recruited by the OSS and utilized as an undercover agent in Italy in 1944. He worked closely with Maurizio Giglio, an Italian policeman who was an OSS secret agent. In 1962 he published his diary, titled A Spy in Rome (New York: Simon & Schuster).

His best-known books are The Secret Life of Plants (1973), Secrets of the Great Pyramid (1971; paperback reprint, 1997), and Mysteries of the Mexican Pyramids (1976). His Secrets of the Great Pyramid, Mysteries of the Mexican Pyramids and The Magic of Obelisks have become classics of "New Age" literature.

In 1977, he hosted a documentary film called Secrets of the Bermuda Triangle, directed by Donald Brittain.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Employers
Office of Strategic Services
Awards
Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

Family & relationships

Child
Ptolemy Tompkins

People in Peter Tompkins's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Peter Tompkins's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Peter Tompkins?

American journalist (1919-2007)

When was Peter Tompkins born?

Peter Tompkins was born on 19 April 1919 in Athens.

When did Peter Tompkins die?

Peter Tompkins died on 24 January 2007 in Shepherdstown.

What was Peter Tompkins's occupation?

Peter Tompkins was a writer, journalist, biologist and spy.

What nationality was Peter Tompkins?

Peter Tompkins was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Peter Tompkins

· Wikidata: Q13382831

· DBpedia: Peter Tompkins

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Peter Tompkins. https://biography.guide/peter-tompkins/

MLA: "Peter Tompkins." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/peter-tompkins/.

Chicago: "Peter Tompkins." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/peter-tompkins/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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