Thomas Thomson

Who was Thomas Thomson?

Thomas Thomson was a Scottish surgeon with the British East India Company before becoming a botanist. He was a friend of Joseph Dalton Hooker and helped write the first volume of Flora Indica.

He was born in Glasgow the son of Thomas Thomson, chemistry professor at Glasgow University.

He qualified as an M.D. at Glasgow University in 1839, as was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the Bengal Army 21 December 1839.

He served during the campaign in Afghanistan 1839-1842 being present at the capture of Ghuzni in 1839 and was taken prisoner at Ghuzni in March 1842 but was released 21 September 1842.

He served on the Sutlej campaign, 1845-46, being present at Firuzshahr, and the second Sikh war, 1848-49.

He was promoted Surgeon 1 December 1853 and Surgeon Major 21 December 1859.

He became Superintendent of the Honourable East India Company's Botanic Garden at Calcutta and was the Naturalist to and Member of the Tibet Mission.

He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1855 and retired 25 September 1863.

He died in Calcutta, India, on 18 April 1878.