John Deas Thomson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Deas Thomson
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Sir John Deas Thomson (born around 1763 – died February 21, 1838) was an important British Navy administrator. He helped manage the business side of the Royal Navy, which was the powerful navy of Britain. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Fellow of the Linnean Society, which means he was recognized for his contributions to science and nature studies.
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Sir John Deas Thomson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, around 1763. His father, also named John Thomson, worked for the navy too, so John followed in his footsteps.
In 1801, John Deas Thomson was known as a 'Naval Officer and store-keeper' in Leith, Scotland. This meant he helped manage supplies and equipment for the navy.
From 1805 to 1829, he served as a Navy Commissioner. This was a senior role in the Navy Office, which was like the main office that ran the Royal Navy.
Helping the First Lord
For about a year, from May 1805 to May 1806, he worked as the Private Secretary to Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham. Baron Barham was the First Lord of the Admiralty, which was the most important person in charge of the Royal Navy at that time.
Contributions to Science
Sir John Deas Thomson was also interested in science. In 1820, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group of scientists in the United Kingdom. He was also chosen as a fellow of the Linnean Society, which is a group for people who study nature, especially plants and animals.
From 1829 to 1832, Sir John was appointed as the Accountant-General of the Navy. This meant he was in charge of all the money and finances for the navy. He made a big change by bringing in "double-entry bookkeeping" to the department. This is a special way of keeping financial records that helps make sure everything is balanced and accurate.
In 1832, he was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order (KCH) and was knighted by the King. This was a great honor for his service.
Work in South Africa
After his time as Accountant-General, he worked for several years as the naval storekeeper and agent at the Cape of Good Hope dockyard. This dockyard was in what is now South Africa, an important stop for ships traveling around the world.
Family and Death
Sir John Deas Thomson passed away on February 21, 1838, at Farleigh Priory in Maidstone, Kent.
He was married to Rebecca, the daughter of John Freer, from South Carolina. They had four sons and one daughter. One of his sons, Edward Deas Thomson, later became an important administrator and politician in Australia.
Legacy
A place called Cape Thompson, which is a headland on the Chukchi Sea coast of Alaska, was named after him. Captain Frederick William Beechey of the Royal Navy named it in 1826, honoring Sir John Deas Thomson.
