Born in 1800 at Aberdeen, Scotland, the son of Alexander Thomson, shipowner and his wife, nee Smith. Educated in Aberdeen, Scotland and London, England (under Sir Everard Home). Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England from 3 November 1820. He married on 24 March 1824 at Aberdeen, Scotland, to Barbara Dalrymple daughter of James Dalrymple of Fraserburgh, Scotland. Acted as surgeon on convict ships on several voyages to Australia. Arrived at Hobart, Van Diemen's Land in December 1831. Arrived at Port Phillip on 9 February 1836 per "Caledonia" from Launceston, V.D.L. and after a short time at Melbourne, settled at Geelong. Named his residence there 'Kardinia'. Active in the Presbyterian Church. Lay missionary to the aborigines. Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council for Port Phillip (1843-44). First elected Mayor of Geelong (1850). Later Member of the Legislative Council and Member of the Legislative Assembly in the Victorian Parliament. Died on 1 January 1866 at his residence, 'Kardinia', Belmont, Geelong, Victoria, and was buried on 2 January 1866 at the Eastern Cemetery, Geelong, Vic.

[death certificate; Billot The Life of Our Years; Australian Dictionary of Biography (Vol. 2); Sutherland Victoria and Its Metropolis (Vols. 1 & 2); Thomson & Serle A Biographical Register of the Victorian Legislature, 1851-1900; Royal College of Surgeons of England; Darrell Paproth]

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