Born in Edinburgh on 2 April 1809, Thomson was the son of an eminent surgeon and followed his father into medicine. He qualified in 1830, became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and, from 1839-1841, was professor of anatomy at Aberdeen. He was elected to the chair of physiology at Edinburgh in 1842 and to the chair of anatomy at Glasgow in 1848.
He remodelled the Glasgow medical school, to the extent of forbidding smoking and removing the suspended skeletons of criminals from the anatomical classroom. He is best remembered for his work in the relocation of the university to its Gilmorehill campus, which he oversaw as chairman of the buildings committee. He was also active in establishing the city's Western Infirmary.
He became president of the British Association in 1876, and was honoured by the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Oxford. In 1877 he retired to London.
SOME fifty years ago a young gentleman was introduced in the drawing-room of Holland House, by the lady who ruled that historic mansion, to the Prime Minister of the day in these terms, "Melbourne, allow me to present to you the future Professor of Anatomy in the University of Glasgow."(1) This was Dr. Allen Thomson. Doubtless the Premier would be informed also that he was the grandson of that famous John Millar who for forty-one years taught Law and Liberalism in the old College of Glasgow, and in whose house young Lamb had lived while studying there.
Allen Thomson was born in Edinburgh on the 2nd April, 1809, and died in London on 21st March, 1884. He was the youngest son of Dr. John Thomson, an intimate associate of the early Edinburgh reviewers, who, beginning life in an humble sphere in Paisley, "ended it" says Lord Cockburn, "as a retired Professor and the most learned physician in Scotland."
In truth John Thomson was a remarkable and many-sided man. In early life he was an ardent chemist, but soon devoted himself to the teaching of surgery, and in 1806 was appointed Professor of Military Surgery in the University of Edinburgh. Subsequently he published his well-known Lectures on Inflammation, which were most favourably received by the profession both at home and abroad. In 1831 Dr. John Thomson was selected as the first Professor of Pathology in Edinburgh, and from that date till his retirement enjoyed a large consulting practice. He died on the 11th of October, 1846, in the eighty-second year of his age.
Allen Thomson was educated in Edinburgh, and took his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1830, holding at the time the honourable position of President of the Royal Medical Society. He afterwards became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, and having made a tour on the Continent he commenced his long career as a teacher by lecturing on Anatomy and Physiology in the Extra Academical School, in conjunction with his life-long friend the late Dr. Sharpey. The limits of this notice prevent us giving in detail the history of Dr. Thomson's professional career, and this indeed has already been admirably told by Professor McKendrick in the "Proceedings of the Philosophical Society." It is sufficient to say that in 1839 he was appointed to the Professorship of Anatomy in Aberdeen, which he held for two years, when he returned to Edinburgh and taught a large extramural class of anatomy in Surgeon's Square. In 1842 he was elected, after keen competition, to the Chair of Physiology in the University of Edinburgh, while in 1848 he gained the goal of his ambition and became Professor of Anatomy in Glasgow.
When Allen Thomson came to the West the Medical School was not in a satisfactory state. Two of its most important Chairs were taught by deputy, and however able and conscientious substitutes may be, they lack the authority and status of professors. The department of anatomy had been in the hands of two good and efficient teachers, but from some cause or other the rooms for practical study were untidy in the last degree, and unfurnished with many of the modern appliances. With resolute will and great energy Allen Thomson set himself to remodelling the dissecting room and museums. Unsightly arrangements were removed, numerous plates and engravings were hung on the walls, a separate apartment was opened for the study of the bones, boxes were provided for the students' books and instruments, and, although not without some show of opposition, smoking was forbidden. The contrast between the old and new regime was most startling, as any one may verify by reading an account of the old dissecting room as given in the "Memoirs of a Medical Student" by the late Mr. Douglas. In the anatomical class-room had been suspended from the roof the skeletons of several criminals. These were removed. For the first time slates for chalk drawings were introduced and screens for showing diagrams were provided. Immediately Dr. Thomson's clearness and precision as a lecturer were recognized by the students, while all his methodical arrangements for their comfort and aid were thoroughly appreciated. The progress of the Glasgow school has since 1848 been very great, and it is in no disparagement of his colleagues that we affirm it was in a great measure due to Dr. Thomson's influence and power. While steadily engaged in his special work much of his spare time was devoted to carrying out his physiological researches, to University matters, and to the duties imposed upon him as a Manager of the Royal Infirmary.
But the general community of Glasgow will probably always remember him best in connection with the labours he undertook to forward the removal of the University to Gilmorehill, and for the time he bestowed, as Chairman of the Buildings Committee, in watching over the construction of the noble pile which now stands - a remarkable instance of the liberality of the citizens of Glasgow. No one, probably, save the great architect who designed the building, had any adequate conception of how much he owed to the co-operation and assistance of Dr. Thomson. For years by day, and often far into the night, he planned and arranged with the view of satisfying every requirement; and the facility with which he used his pencil enabled him at once to sketch any alteration which occurred to his mind.
The remarkable increase which has taken place in the number of students attending Glasgow College since its removal to Gilmorehill, and which is far in excess of what even the most sanguine anticipated, has rendered the accommodation inadequate, especially in some departments, and there have not been wanting critics to point out the want of foresight displayed by those mainly responsible for the detailed plans. It is no doubt to be regretted that some of the class and other rooms should not have been on a larger scale, but it would be unjust to reflect on those who proceeded upon the best information accessible at the time, and it may be added that if the pressure leads to a further subdivision of the most numerous classes, a positive benefit may result to the students. Perhaps it may be well to record here that the cost of the site and University buildings, including the sum allocated to the Western Infirmary, amounted in 1877 to no less a sum than £427,856.(2)
Ere the University buildings were completed Dr. Thomson turned his attention to the hospital accommodation which had to be provided for the purposes of the Medical School, and to supply the want long felt for additional aid to the sick poor of Glasgow. To accomplish this, funds required to be raised in addition to the grant from the general scheme. The Western Infirmary, since largely increased by the generosity of the late Mr. John Freeland, is the result of these efforts, an hospital which will bear comparison with any in the kingdom in point of amenity, comfort, and adaptation to its ends. During its construction Dr. Thomson was indefatigable in his efforts to meet every want, and his labours, and those of Mr. Burnet, the architect, have been crowned by admitted success. Doubts were entertained and freely expressed as to the possibility of securing a sufficient maintenance by mere voluntary effort for a second infirmary on such a scale, but the result, although there has been occasional pressure, is a triumphant proof of the fact that the citizens of Glasgow are ever ready to support a deserving charity. More especially may it be noted that the working classes responded with a generous alacrity to the call made upon them, and that their contributions furnish no small part of the ordinary income.
While thus engaged with weighty local matters Dr. Thomson's energies were also finding scope in the scientific world. He was long a member of the British Association, and took an active part in its deliberations. In 1876 he was elected President, a high honour, and at the meeting at Plymouth in 1877 he delivered the opening address "On the Development of the Forms of Natural Life." Other distinctions were conferred upon him. He was a Doctor of Laws of the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and in 1882 the University of Oxford conferred on him the degree of D.C.L. For many years he was a member of the General Medical Council, taking a deep interest in its proceedings. In 1882 Dr. Thomson, in conjunction with Professors Schafer and Thane, revised the ninth edition of "Quain's Anatomy," his principal contribution to the work being the portion on Embryology - long a favourite subject of inquiry and study. In two previous editions he had enjoyed the co-operation of his old friend, Dr. Sharpey, and the work as it stands owes much of its acknowledged excellence and accuracy to the labours of these two distinguished Scotsmen. In 1877 Dr. Thomson, warned by some failure of strength and health, resigned the Chair of Anatomy, which he had so long worthily filled, and retired to London. His friends and admirers subscribed for a portrait to be placed in the Hunterian Museum, while a replica was presented to Mrs. Thomson. The compliment so paid in recognition of his faithful services to the University was a source of profound gratification to him.
In the summer of 1883 Dr. Thomson paid what proved to be his last visit to Scotland. He was in high spirits - full of energy and apparently in good health - but concerned about a certain failure of sight which he feared would curtail his application to work. Early in 1884 he underwent an operation which, as far as the local affection was concerned, seemed to promise good results, but unhappily other symptoms developed themselves under which he gradually sunk. He was buried in the Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh, where lie the remains of many of his own and his father's friends.
This notice has in the main been confined to a sketch of what Allen Thomson did for Glasgow and its University. But distinguished as he was as a public man, a teacher, and a scientist, to his intimate friends he will ever be specially remembered for the charm of his manner, the amiability of his disposition, and his strong affections as displayed in the intercourse of everyday life. There was no one, servant, student, colleague, or friend, who in times of trouble and distress did not find in him a never-failing source of comfort and help. In his students he took deep interest, watching and aiding them in their professional careers, and there are many scattered through the world who are indebted to him for wise counsel and assistance. Dr. Thomson shone as a conversationalist. He took an interest in matters quite beyond the sphere of his profession and discussed them calmly and with great fairness. It was specially pleasant to listen to him when he gave reminiscences of Holland House and its inmates, or dwelt upon the charms of Edinburgh society in the days of Jeffrey, Cockburn, Murray, and Rutherford. He was an admirable host, and delighted in entertaining the distinguished men who from time to time came to Glasgow to deliver the Science Lectures. It will be long before his genial face is forgotten in Glasgow, while his influence will be felt while the University continues to carry on the great work in which he for so many years participated. Dr. Thomson is survived by the lady who added so much to his happiness, and by an only son, John Millar Thomson, now actively engaged in teaching chemistry in King's College, London.
(1) When Dr. John Thomson was a resident in the Edinburgh Infirmary he had for a colleague John Allen, who subsequently forsaking medicine became private secretary and confidential friend of Lord Holland. From him Allen Thomson received his Christian name. John Allen became Master of Dulwich College, but lived at Holland House. According to Macaulay he was a man of vast information and great conversational powers. When Lord Holland was disabled by illness he performed the role of host, and although often sorely tried by the caprices of Lady Holland there is no doubt he contributed greatly to the distinction, social and literary, which Holland House attained. It was to him that the subject of our memoir owed his introduction there. In Moore's memoirs very frequent notice is taken of Allen.
(2) In addition to this expenditure, there is that incurred in the erection of the Bute and Randolph Halls by the princely liberality of their donors. Many private contributions also have been given to the Library and to the equipment of the Physiological Laboratory, while the front gateway to the old College is shortly to be removed to Gilmorehill at the expense of Mr. William Pearce.
Back to Contents