Thomson was born in Partick on 25 March 1815 and worked with Robert Napier, the engineer and shipbuilder. He soon rose to assistant manager before, in 1846, starting the Clydebank engineering firm James and George Thomson with his elder brother.
From 1851 they began shipbuilding in Govan, their first ship being the Mountaineer, built for the West Highland trade routes run by David Hutcheson and, later, by David MacBrayne. Around 40 vessels were made in total, with names such as Clansman, Columba and Claymore.
Thomson's last ship, built 1865, was the 3,000-ton Russia. This was the largest and most important vessel operating on the Atlantic at the time, and was capable of crossing the ocean inside nine days.
THE progress in steam-ship building during the last thirty years, although important in no small degree, has been so gradual, and with so few "leaps and bounds," in comparison with some other departments of science and industry, that it is probable the annals of the industry par excellence of Glasgow will speak to a future generation scantily, if at all, of the noted group who some score of years ago made the Clyde resonant with their labours. Already the lapse of time is drawing a veil over the memory of many a brave and masterly worker whose efforts were no mean factors in the development of the steam-ship and ocean navigation.
Such were David Tod, Thomas Wingate, John Wood of Port-Glasgow, and William Denny of Dumbarton, and such was the subject of this sketch - genuine Scotchmen all, simple in life and manners, downright in speech, hard workers and loving their work, and aiming (most of them) at a high ideal.
George Thomson was born at Partick, near Glasgow, 25th March, 1815. After serving an apprenticeship with Mr. Graham, millwright, Partick, he entered the works of Mr. Robert Napier, the well-known engineer and shipbuilder, where he acquired a knowledge of marine and general engine work as far as could be obtained at the time. His ability was early recognized, and led to his being appointed assistant manager under Mr. David Elder (the head manager, and father of the more widely-known John Elder of Fairfield yard). After occupying this position for several years he commenced business in 1846 as an engineer at Clydebank Foundry, Glasgow, along with his elder brother James, under the firm of James & George Thomson, adding in 1851 the shipbuilding branch at their yard at Govan. This partnership continued until 1863, when James Thomson retired, and the business was taken over by his brother George, and after the decease of the latter in 1866 was, under the old designation, continued by his two sons.
It may be interesting to note that the first marine engine made at Clydebank Foundry was a single steeple engine of 50 H.P. for the West Highland trade of Messrs. G. & J. Burns, for whom, and in connection with the Cunard Company, George Thomson's firm afterwards constructed about forty steamers, principally for the Atlantic mail service, culminating in the "Russia" - long the "crack" ship on the Atlantic - a connection, we may add, continued by George Thomson's sons in later years, when the magnificent steamships "Gallia," "Servia," "Aurania," etc., maintained the reputation of Clydebank.
The first vessel built in the Govan yard was the "Mountaineer," for the West Highland trade of David Hutcheson & Company, and this commenced a long series of greatly successful, splendidly appointed steamers built for George Thomson's attached friend David Hutcheson, and in later years by his sons for David MacBrayne - the names of the "Iona," "Clansman," "Chevalier," "Columba," "Claymore," and "Grenadier," being household words wherever tourists go, by the changeful seas and mountain ways of the beautiful West.
In connection with George Thomson's life and work it may be matter of almost historical interest to note the greatly altered conditions under which work in the engine shop and building yard of an extensive work is now-a-days carried on; and perhaps no better exemplification of the change could be adduced than by a comparison of the old Clydebank Works and the new Clydebank, still as formerly carried on under the firm of James & George Thomson.
The engine and boiler shops erected at old Clydebank at Glasgow in 1846, and occupying an area of 2½ acres, were almost slavish copies of the old Vulcan and Lancefield Works of Mr. Robert Napier, were low in height and dimly lighted, with superposed shops for finishing and pattern work; the hoisting and handling of the pieces of machinery being performed almost entirely by manual labour, and the haulage of machinery either in yard or to crane by the employment for this purpose of large gangs of men and boys. The old building yard at Govan (now included in Clyde Trust limits) occupied an area of about 3 acres, and both works when fully engaged employed about 1,500 hands.
The new Clydebank, by which name is indicated not only a building yard and engine works, but a populous village, with churches and schools, and postal and telegraph stations, public halls, and railway, was founded by the firm of James & George Thomson on leaving their Govan yard. It is situated on the Clyde about seven miles west of Glasgow, and the building yard and engine works occupy an area of about 50 acres, and when fully engaged employ from 3,000 to 4,000 hands. In the new works the low roofs and dim lights have given place to lofty open shops, with ample daylight, and the electric light for dusk or night work; the manual labour for hoists and handling is replaced by powerful overhead travelling cranes, and a complete system of hydraulic machinery is carried over the yard in lieu of the usual steam appliances; the haulage is effected by locomotive traction and steam travellers over a railway system; the huge blocks of several stories for wood-working are replaced by an immense one storey workshop, lighted by electric light, and fitted with the most improved American wood-shaping tools. The inconvenient berthage of the newly launched ships at harbour is dispensed with by the formation of a tidal basin, having alongside shear-legs capable of lifting 120 tons; and the launching itself is effected over a water-way sufficient for the largest ships ever constructed, being at the embouchure of the River Cart into Clyde.
It may further be noticed for interesting comparison between old and new that the "Russia," the last ship designed by George Thomson (1865), was 3,000 tons gross tonnage, and steam power development of 3,500. This vessel was much the largest and most important on the Atlantic, and was visited from all parts, her passages, then considered wonderful, occupying eight and a half to nine days. The recent Atlantic liners turned out from Clydebank run up to 8,000 tons, with indicated power of upwards of 10,000, and making passages in six and a half to seven days.
While claiming for George Thomson no speciality as an inventor or an "epochal" man in his profession, it may be said that he was one of those who carried forward the lamp, ever ready to make any needed innovation, to perfect any design, to meet, in a word, all the constantly recurring calls and exigencies of a laborious and exacting profession, with workmanlike ability and suggestiveness. As to the success of his work, there could be no question.
Mr. Thomson devoted himself thoroughly to his business, and was little seen or known in public. To those who knew him his untimely death came as a painful shock. He was handsome and manly of presence, kindly and modest in manners, with an abounding cheeriness, and, we may add, with a touch of the Anderston "Doric" in his speech, which in him was an added charm.
Back to Contents