Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander George Thomson
Designation:  
Born: 1823 or 1824
Died: 15 February 1904
Bio Notes: Alexander George Thomson was born on 16 January 1825, the son of William Thomson, naval officer and Caroline Montfleury. He was probably either a pupil or an assistant with Black & Salmon in Glasgow. When that partnership was dissolved c. 1853 Black took Thomson into partnership, but this had been dissolved by 1857 when Thomson designed the restoration of Penkill Castle for Spencer Boyd. In 1870-71 he opened an office in Greenock at 22 Cathcart Street and by 1882-83 had moved to 32 Cathcart Street.

Thomson practised chiefly as a civil engineer. Professor William James Smith recalled James Chalmers as having been associated, and may have been as assistant prior to commencing practice on his own account in 1882, or it may be that he bought Thomson's practice on his retirement: he certainly completed Thomson's St John's Epsicopal Church at Girvan.

Thomson retired c. 1895 and died of 'old age' on 15 February 1904 at Hazelcliff, Innellan, his usual address being Hatherley, Bishop's Road, Jordanhill, Glasgow. He left moveable estate of £1,681 18s 8d. His wife Emma Elizabeth Jones had predeceased him. He is commemorated in a stained-glass window in All Saints Episcopal Church, Jordanhill by James Chalmers.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 13146, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1853 *  
Item 2 of 13141, Moore Place, West George Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1853After 1854 
Item 3 of 133, Minerva Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1856 *  
Item 4 of 1341, Carnarvon Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1860 *  
Item 5 of 13146, Woodlands Road, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1862 *  
Item 6 of 13194, West George Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1865After 1877 
Item 7 of 1322, Cathcart Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1870 or 1871 *  
Item 8 of 13104, West Campbell Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1880 *  
Item 9 of 1332, Cathcart Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandBusiness1882 or 1883 *  
Item 10 of 131, North Claremont Street, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate18881899 
Item 11 of 13Central Chambers, 109, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1888After 1895 
Item 12 of 13Hatherley, Bishop's Road, Jordanhill, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateAfter 18991904 
Item 13 of 13Hazelcliff, Innellan, Argyll, ScotlandPrivate15 February 1904 * Place of death

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 2Black & SalmonAfter 1843c. 1853Assistant(?)Apprentice and/or assistant
Item 2 of 2Robert Black and Alexander George Thomsonc. 1853Before 1857Partner 

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 10c. 1851Hutchesontown Bridge  GlasgowScotlandProposed widening
Item 2 of 101857Penkill CastlePenkill AyrshireScotlandRebuilding
Item 3 of 101857St John's Episcopal ChurchGirvan AyrshireScotlandMain church
Item 4 of 10After 1857All Saints Episcopal ChurchJordanhill GlasgowScotland 
Item 5 of 10After 1857Christ Church Episcopal ChurchMile End GlasgowScotlandRestoration
Item 6 of 101865Pointhouse Shipbuilding Yard  GlasgowScotlandSlipdock added
Item 7 of 101866Grove Street Institute  GlasgowScotland 
Item 8 of 10c. 1881Glasgow Municipal Buildings  GlasgowScotlandCompetition design under the pseudonym 'Curia Municipalis'
Item 9 of 101887University of Glasgow, Pearce Lodge  GlasgowScotland 
Item 10 of 101889University of Glasgow, Pearce Lodge  GlasgowScotlandBoundary wall, gatepiers and railings

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Architects Engineers and Building Trades Directory1868Architect's, Engineer's and Building Trades' Directory London, Wyman 
Item 2 of 4Greenock Post Office directories Greenock Post Office directories   
Item 3 of 4Johnston, W T2003Artists of Scotland Officina Publications CDROM 
Item 4 of 4Post Office Directories     

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Personal information from Professor William James Smith; additional research (addresses and family history) by Iain Paterson