John Thomson (1840-1922)
John Thomson (1840-1922) Engineer, of Engine Works, 36 Finnieston Street, Glasgow
c.1840 Born in Glasgow, son of James Thomson
1851 Living at 13 Kelvingrove Place James Thomson 49, an Engineer employing 200 Men. With wife Grace (age 40) and children Agnes Thomson (age 15), Jane Thomson (age 14), Grace Thomson (age 12), John Thomson (age 11), James Thomson (age 7), Mary Thomson (age 5), Jessie Thomson (age 2) plus two servants. [1]
Employed in his father's business of J. and G. Thomson
1861 James Thomson 57, Engineer and Iron Ship builder, Employing 86 Men And 64 Apprentices, lived in Glasgow Barony with G Thomson 50, G M Thomson 22, John Thomson 21, engineer, James Thomson 17, draughtsman, Mary Thomson 15, Jessie Thomson 12[2]
1863 His father retired from business
1868 Joined the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
1868 In business with his brother, James, as John and James Thomson
1871 Living in Glasgow, Barony: Grace Thomson 60, Grace M Thomson 32, John Thomson 31, marine engineer, James Thomson 27, marine engineer, Jessie Thomson 22[3]
1873 Married Mary Helen Drummond (b. 1848 Stirling)[4]
1875 of John and James Thomson, Finnieston Engine Works, 36 Finnieston Street, Glasgow.
1901 Retired marine engineer[5]
1922 Obituary [6]
JOHN THOMSON was born on 12th February 1840 at Govan, Glasgow, and was the elder son of James Thomson, the founder of the marine engineering firm of James and George Thomson, of Finnieston and Clydebank. It is interesting to note that these works formed the nucleus of the celebrated shipbuilding yard of John Brown and Co.
The subject of this Memoir served his apprenticeship in his father's workshops, but subsequently commenced in business with his brother James, as John and James Thomson, engineers and boiler makers of Finnieston and Kelvinhaugh, specializing in marine work.
He retired from active participation in the business in 1891 and thereafter interested himself in philanthropic matters.
He died on 6th November 1922, aged eighty-two years.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1868.