Allen Thomson facts for kids

Allen Thomson FRS FRSE FRCSE (born April 2, 1809 – died March 21, 1884) was an important Scottish doctor. He was especially known for his work in anatomy (the study of the body's structure) and embryology (the study of how living things develop before birth). He was a member of several important scientific and medical groups, like the Royal Society of London.

His Life and Education

Allen Thomson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on April 2, 1809. His father was Dr. John Thomson, also a well-known physician. Allen was named after his father's friend, John Allen.

Allen went to the high school and the University of Edinburgh. He also studied in Paris, France. In August 1830, he finished his medical degree at the University of Edinburgh. At that time, he was the president of the Royal Medical Society in Edinburgh, a group for medical students and doctors. In 1831, he became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, which is a high honor for surgeons.

Early Career and Teaching

After his studies, Thomson traveled to the Netherlands and Germany. He visited museums that showed parts of the body and diseases, taking many notes. When he returned to Edinburgh, he started teaching physiology (the study of how the body works) outside of the main university. He taught with William Sharpey, who taught anatomy. They gave these lectures from 1831 to 1836. Thomson also helped teach anatomy during this time.

In 1833, he traveled again with his father, visiting medical schools in many countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and France. For a short time from 1837 to 1839, he worked as a private doctor for the Duke of Bedford.

In 1842, Thomson gave special lectures on microscopic anatomy. This was a very new subject then, and he added his own discoveries to what German scientists had found.

Becoming a Professor

Allen Thomson became a professor of anatomy at Marischal College, Aberdeen, in 1839. However, he left this job in 1841 and went back to teaching in Edinburgh.

In 1842, he was chosen to be the professor of physiology at the University of Edinburgh. He held this position for six years and made important discoveries in embryology. In 1848, he moved to the University of Glasgow to become the Regius Professor of Anatomy. This is a special type of professor appointed by the King or Queen. He stayed in Glasgow until 1877, when he moved to London.

Important Contributions and Honors

Thomson was elected a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1838 and the Royal Society of London in 1848. These are very important scientific groups. He held many leadership roles, including being a vice-president of the Royal Society of London.

He was also president of several societies in Glasgow. From 1859 to 1877, he represented the universities of Glasgow and St. Andrews on the General Medical Council. Here, his experience helped improve medical education for future doctors.

In 1871, he was president of the biology section of the British Association, a large scientific organization. In 1876, he became the overall president of the British Association. In his speech the next year, he talked about the history of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

He received honorary degrees from the University of Edinburgh (LL.D. in 1871), the University of Glasgow (1877), and the University of Oxford (D.C.L. in 1882). These degrees recognized his great achievements.

Building the University

From 1863 to 1874, Thomson led the committee that oversaw the building of new university facilities for the University of Glasgow. He also played a big part in building the Western Infirmary, a hospital.

Allen Thomson passed away in London on March 21, 1884. He is buried with his wife, Ninian Jane Hill, in Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh.

His Works

Allen Thomson was a very skilled artist, especially at drawing. His diagrams were used in many anatomy and physiology textbooks for a long time.

He also wrote about how the human eye works, explaining how it changes focus to see objects at different distances.

Thomson helped edit several editions of a famous anatomy textbook called 'Elements of Anatomy' by Jones Quain. He also edited a book about the life of William Cullen, a famous physician.

Some of Thomson's original writings are kept at the Cadbury Research Library at the University of Birmingham.

Family

Allen Thomson married Ninian Jane Hill (1810-1893). Her father was Ninian Hill, a writer in Edinburgh. Allen and Ninian had one son, John Millar Thomson, who also became a respected scientist.

Allen Thomson's half-brother was Professor William Thomson. William was the son of Allen's father from his first marriage. William married Allen's wife's sister, Eliza Hill. William is buried next to Allen.

Images for kids

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  Allen Thomson

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  Allen Thomson, 1878 portrait by Daniel Macnee, Hunterian Museum collection.

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  The grave of Allen Thomson, Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh

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  A lecture ticket from November 6, 1860, showing attendance at Allen Thomson's anatomy lectures.

See Also

• John Thomson (physician)
• William Thomson (physician)