James Diego Thomson (1788–1854) was a Scottish Baptist Pastor, and educator. He served as
schoolmaster in South America where Thomson applied the
Lancasterian system.
Biography
Thomson was born 1788 in
Creetown, Scotland, the son of William Thomson and Janet Burnett, belonging to a family that professed the Presbyterian religion. After completing his secondary studies, he enrolled in medicine and theology at Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities and later took a doctorate at
McGill University in Canada. He learned the Spanish language, and served as a pastor in a village in Scotland.
In 1818, James Thomson arrived at the
port of Buenos Aires. He had been commissioned by the
British and Foreign Bible Society
The British and Foreign Bible Society, often known in England and Wales as simply the Bible Society, is a non-denominational Christian Bible society with charity status whose purpose is to make the Bible available throughout the world.
The Soc ...
, to carry out the education system created by
Joseph Lancaster
Joseph Lancaster (25 November 1778 – 23 October 1838) was an English Quaker and public education innovator. He developed, and propagated on the grounds both of economy and efficacy, a monitorial system of primary education. In the first deca ...
. During his stay in Argentina, he was in charge of instructing the teachers of Buenos Aires. After the successful implementation of the Lancastrian system in the
Río de la Plata, Thomson was appointed director of schools in Buenos Aires, a position he had held until 1821.
In 1821, Thomson was hired by the government of
Chile. And in 1822, was invited by the General
José de San Martín to visit the city of
Lima, in order to introduce a modern education system.
James Diego Thomson was appointed an honorary citizen of the
United Provinces of the River Plate, for his great contribution to national public education.
References
External links
www.sba.org.ar
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, James
1788 births
1854 deaths
Clergy from Buenos Aires
Scottish educators
Scottish educational theorists
People from Kirkcudbright
Argentine educators
Scottish evangelicals
Scottish evangelists