Alexander Thomson (pioneer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexander Thomson
Dr. Alexander Thomson
Born	1800 Aberdeen, Scotland
Died	1 January 1866 Geelong, Victoria
Occupation	Mayor of Geelong

Dr. Alexander Thomson (born 1800 – died 1 January 1866) was an important person in early Australian history. He was the very first mayor of Geelong, a city in Victoria, Australia. He served as mayor five times between 1850 and 1858. He was also the first European settler in the area now called Belmont, which is a suburb of Geelong. His home there was named Kardinia.

His Early Life in Scotland

Alexander Thomson was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. His father, also named Alexander Thomson, owned ships. Young Alexander went to school and then studied medicine at Aberdeen University. He continued his medical studies in London. In March 1824, he married Barbara Dalrymple.

Moving to Australia

In 1825, Dr. Thomson sailed to Tasmania (which was then called Van Diemen's Land). He worked as a surgeon on a ship carrying convicts. He made several trips like this. He had inherited a good amount of money from his mother.

In 1831, he decided to live in Tasmania. He brought his wife and daughter with him. He was given a large piece of land, about 16 square kilometers (4000 acres).

New Adventures in Port Phillip

In 1832, Thomson bought two small steamships. He started a ferry service between Hobart and Kangaroo Point in Tasmania. However, he sold both ships within two years.

He became very interested in the new settlement area called Port Phillip District. This area is now part of Victoria. In November 1835, he sent the very first group of cattle to this new settlement. There were 50 Hereford cows.

In March 1836, Thomson arrived in Port Phillip with his family. He worked as a doctor and a religious teacher for a group called the Port Phillip Association. He built a house in Melbourne, near where Flinders and Elizabeth streets are today. Before his house was finished, he would hold church services in his tent on Sundays.

Thomson was the secretary for the first public meeting held in Melbourne on June 1st. In October, a government official named William Lonsdale hired him as a medical officer. Thomson resigned from this job in January 1837.

Life in Geelong

Dr. Thomson chose land in the area that is now Geelong. He settled there and explored the surrounding areas. He bought more land in different places. By 1846, he owned about 600 square kilometers (150,000 acres) of land.

He was involved in many businesses. He was a director of a bank and a steamship company. He was also the first person to give cash advances to wool farmers. He was a leader in almost every important project in Geelong. This included improving the harbor and starting a mechanics' institute (a place for learning). He also cared a lot about church matters and helping the local Aboriginal people. He spent a lot of his own time and money on these causes.

Geelong's First Mayor

Geelong became an official town in 1849. It had about 8,000 people. It was a natural choice for Thomson to be elected as its first mayor. He served as mayor again in 1851, 1855, 1856, and 1857.

He was also involved in politics at a higher level. In 1843, he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council. This was a governing body for the colony. However, it was hard for him to attend meetings in Sydney, so he soon resigned.

Thomson was very active in a movement against sending more convicts to Australia. In 1852, he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council for Geelong. He helped create a law to start the "Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company". Thomson led the first meeting of the company's shareholders and was one of its directors. The railway line was finished in 1857.

Working for Victoria's Future

During this time, Thomson resigned from the council and visited England. He wanted to get information about new laws for the Australian colonies. When he found that the government ministers had changed, he even followed Lord John Russell to Vienna to speak with him. He got a promise that Victoria would get its own separate constitution. In May 1855, Lord John Russell sent him a copy of the new law. This law soon helped Victoria become a separate colony with its own government.

In 1857, Thomson was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Geelong. He resigned in April 1859. He was then elected for Geelong East in October 1859 and held this seat until July 1861.

Because he was so busy with public life, his own money matters suffered. Towards the end of his life, he took a job as a doctor at a boys' home in Sunbury. He passed away in Geelong on January 1, 1866. He was buried in the old Geelong cemetery. His wife and one of his daughters survived him.

His Legacy

The suburb of Thomson was named after Dr. Thomson. Thomson Street in Belmont was also named after him. This street was once part of his large property. A church parish and the Alexander Thomson Cricket Club in Geelong are also named in his honor.