James Stuart Thomson FRSE FLS (1868–1932) was a 19th/20th century Scottish zoologist. He was an expert on the

tortoise Tortoises () are reptiles of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines (Latin: ''tortoise''). Like other turtles, tortoises have a shell to protect from predation and other threats. The shell in tortoises is generally hard, and like oth ...

Life

He was born on 21 July 1868 at Pilmuir near East Saltoun in East Lothian, the youngest son and seventh child of Rev Arthur Thomson (1823-1881) a minister of the Free Church of Scotland, and his wife, Isabella Landsborough.Ewing, William ''Annals of the Free Church;; He studied Science at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

then did further postgraduate studies at

Freiburg University The University of Freiburg (colloquially german: Uni Freiburg), officially the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg (german: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg), is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemb ...

in Germany and the

University of Berne The University of Bern (german: Universität Bern, french: Université de Berne, la, Universitas Bernensis) is a university in the Swiss capital of Bern and was founded in 1834. It is regulated and financed by the Canton of Bern. It is a comp ...

in Switzerland, also undertaking practical experience at several marine biology stations. He held teaching posts at Plymouth and

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

and then Assistant Biologist at the research station at the Cape of Good Hope in 1903. He helped assess material from the

Challenger Expedition The ''Challenger'' expedition of 1872–1876 was a scientific program that made many discoveries to lay the foundation of oceanography. The expedition was named after the naval vessel that undertook the trip, . The expedition, initiated by Wi ...

and at the Granton Marine Station. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1906. His proposers were

Ramsay Traquair Ramsay Heatley Traquair Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, FRSE Fellow of the Royal Society of London, FRS (30 July 1840 – 22 November 1912) was a Scottish naturalist and palaeontologist who became a leading expert on fossil fish. Tra ...

William Eagle Clarke Dr William Eagle Clarke FLS FRSE PBOU I.S.O LL.D. (16 March 1853 – 10 May 1938) was a British ornithologist. Life Clarke was born in Leeds where his father William Clarke was a solicitor and educated at the Grammar School and at Yorkshire ...

, William Carmichael McIntosh and Thomas Nicol Johnston. He spent some time lecturing in zoology at the South African College and

University of Bristol , mottoeng = earningpromotes one's innate power (from Horace, ''Ode 4.4'') , established = 1595 – Merchant Venturers School1876 – University College, Bristol1909 – received royal charter , type ...

before accepting a permanent position at the

University of Manchester , mottoeng = Knowledge, Wisdom, Humanity , established = 2004 – University of Manchester Predecessor institutions: 1956 – UMIST (as university college; university 1994) 1904 – Victoria University of Manchester 1880 – Victoria Univ ...

in 1910, lecturing under Prof

Sydney J. Hickson Sydney John Hickson FRS (25 June 1859 – 6 February 1940), was a British zoologist known for his groundbreaking research in evolution, embryology, genetics, and systematics. Hickson travelled in the Malay archipelago in 1885–1886. He was a ...

. He retired due to ill-health in 1929 and moved to

Cirencester Cirencester (, ; see below for more variations) is a market town in Gloucestershire, England, west of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswolds. It is the home of ...

. He died in Swansea on 28 August 1932.

Family

He was younger brother to Arthur Thomson and uncle to

Arthur Landsborough Thomson Sir Arthur Landsborough Thomson FRSE PZS CB LLD (8 October 1890 – 9 June 1977) was a Scottish medical researcher, mainly remembered as an amateur ornithologist and ornithological author and acknowledged expert on bird migration. Life He wa ...

Publications

References

1868 births 1932 deaths People from East Lothian Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Academics of the University of Manchester British zoologists Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh {{UK-zoologist-stub