George Thomson (shipbuilder) facts for kids
George Thomson (born March 25, 1815 – died June 29, 1866) was a clever Scottish engineer who built amazing ships. He was born in a place called Partick, which is part of Glasgow, Scotland.
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Learning to Build Ships
George started his career by learning from a skilled person named Mr. Graham in Partick. This was like an apprenticeship, where he learned practical skills. After that, he went to work for a very famous engineer named Robert Napier. Working with Mr. Napier helped George learn everything he could about marine engineering. This means designing and building the powerful engines that make ships move.
Starting a Shipbuilding Business
George soon decided to start his own business with his brother, James. They called their company James & George Thomson. At first, they focused on building ship engines. But by 1851, they expanded and started building entire ships!
Famous Ships and Growth
The Thomson brothers built more than forty steamships. One of their most famous ships was the Russia. It was considered one of the best ships for crossing the huge Atlantic Ocean. As their business grew, they moved their operations to Govan. Later, they built an even bigger factory in a new place called Clydebank. This new factory was much larger, and the number of workers grew from 1,500 to over 4,000 people!
A New Generation Takes Over
Sadly, James retired early, and George passed away suddenly. After this, George's sons, who were also named James and George, took over running the big factory in Clydebank. They continued their father's important work.
In 1899, a large steel company from Sheffield called John Brown & Co. bought the Clydebank shipyard. This shipyard, started by James and George Thomson, became a very important part of shipbuilding history.
