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Author: Thomson, Thomas

Biography:

THOMSON, Thomas (1798-1869: ODNB)

Antiquary, biographer, and editor; baptised as Thomas Napier Thomson. He was born in Glasgow to Agnes (Davidson) and Hugh Thomson, a West Indies merchant. In 1812 the family moved to London and he was placed at a boarding school in Barnet to prepare for his university entrance. The harsh regime at the school proved detrimental to his health and he was sent to live with an uncle in Ayrshire where he recovered although he suffered from bronchitis throughout his life. In 1813 he began studying at Glasgow University, having dropped “Napier” from his name owing to a quarrel with that branch of his family. On graduating, he entered Divinity Hall for further studies and supported himself by tutoring after his father suffered business losses. He was licensed as a preacher in about 1823 and worked in parishes in Scotland, Newcastle, and Birmingham. He also wrote for the Christian Instructor. A series of lectures he gave in Glasgow for women on the philosophy of history were so popular that he repeated them in Edinburgh the following year. Although he was appointed assistant at the church in Cupar, Fife, his health suffered and, attracted by the warmer climate, he agreed to move to New South Wales to take charge of the “Scotch Church” in the district of Maitland. On arrival, he found that the situation was not as advertised—there was neither church nor congregation—and he moved to Bathurst where he worked from 1832. He married Lucy Agnes Hall and, after the birth of their second child, they travelled to London, arriving in 1835. There his publishing career took off: he wrote various naval and military biographies; the Pictorial History of England (1838); and prepared an edition from the original manuscript of David Calderwood’s History of the Kirk of Scotland. In 1844 the family went to Edinburgh where Thomson published for the periodical press; was connected with Blackie and Co., publishers; and worked with Robert Chambers on his Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen. He died at home in Trinity, Leith, from bronchitis. His other publications include an 1865 edition of the poetical works of James Hogg (q.v.) and, in the 1820s, pious works for youth: Richard Gordon, A Visit to Dalgarnoch, Christian Martyr, and City of the Sun. (ODNB 23 Nov. 2020; Robert Chambers, Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen, rev. ed. [1870])

 

Books written (1):

Glasgow/ Edinburgh/ London: M. Ogle, A. and J. M. Duncan, J. Brash and Co., and W. Turnbull/ Ogle, Allardice, and Thomson, and Waugh and Innes/ T. Williams and Co., 1818