Laurence Tomson facts for kids
Laurence Tomson (born 1539 – died 29 March 1608) was an important English person. He was a politician, a writer, and a translator. He worked as the personal secretary for Sir Francis Walsingham. Sir Francis was a top government official for Queen Elizabeth I.
Tomson is best known for updating the New Testament part of the Geneva Bible. His updated version came out in 1576. He was a Calvinist, which is a type of Christian belief. His notes in the Bible showed his strong religious views.
Laurence Tomson's Life Journey
Laurence Tomson was born in Northamptonshire, England. He started studying at Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1553. He earned his first degree in 1559. Later, he became a fellow (a kind of teacher or researcher) at his college. He got his master's degree in 1564.
In 1566, he traveled to France with Sir Thomas Hoby, who was an ambassador. Tomson left his college job in 1569.
Between 1575 and 1587, Tomson was a Member of Parliament (MP). He represented Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. He was also an MP for Downton in 1588–1589. In 1582, he was at the royal court in Windsor Castle.
According to a special message written about him, Tomson traveled a lot. He visited Sweden, Russia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, and France. He could speak twelve different languages! At one point, he even gave public lessons on the Hebrew language in Geneva.
Sir Francis Walsingham used Tomson for important political tasks. After Sir Francis died, Tomson stopped working in public life.
Tomson passed away on 29 March 1608. He was buried in a church in Chertsey, Surrey. A special black marble stone was placed there to remember him.
Laurence Tomson's Writings and Translations
Laurence Tomson wrote and translated many works. Here are some of his notable contributions:
- ‘An Answere to certeine Assertions and Obiections of M. Fecknam’ (London, around 1570). This was a response to someone named M. Fecknam.
- ‘Statement of Advantages to be obtained by the establishment of a Mart Town in England’ (1572). This was a handwritten document about setting up a trading town in England.
- ‘The New Testament … translated out of Greeke by T. Beza. Whereunto are adjoyned brief summaries of doctrine … by the said T. Beza: and also short expositions … taken out of the large annotations of the foresaid authour and J. Camerarius. By P. Loseler, Villerius. Englished by L. Tomson’ (London, 1576). This was his famous translation of the New Testament. He dedicated it to Sir Francis Walsingham. Other editions came out in 1580, 1587, and 1596. It was based on the work of Pierre Loiseleur.
- ‘A Treatise of the Excellencie of a Christian Man, and how he may be knowen. Written in French. ... Whereunto is adioyned a briefe description of the life and death of the said authour (set forth by P. de Farnace). ... Translated into English’ (London, 1576). This book was about what makes a good Christian person.
- ‘Sermons of J. Calvin on the Epistles of S. Paule to Timothie and Titus … Translated’ (London, 1579). Tomson translated sermons by John Calvin.
- ‘Propositions taught and mayntained by Mr. R[ichard] Hooker. The same briefly confuted by L. T. in a private letter’. This was a letter where he disagreed with some ideas from Richard Hooker.
- ‘Treatise on the matters in controversy between the Merchants of the Hanze Towns and the Merchants Adventurers’ (1590). This was a Latin document about disagreements between different groups of merchants.
- ‘Mary, the Mother of Christ: her tears’ (London, 1596).
- ‘Brief Remarks on the State of the Low Countries’. This was a short note about the situation in the Netherlands.
