James R. Thomson

History

James Russell Thomson was born in Scotland on 24 May 1818, and sailed to Australia on the Aberfoyle in September 1852. He died on 26 May 1886 at his house at 93 Doveton Street North.

He worked in various mines including the Republic mine, now the site of the Ballarat Base Hospital. His business partner was shipmate Duncan Gillies who later became the Premier of Victoria. James Thomson was actively in the events leading up to the Eureka Stockade but later in live did not take an active part in public affairs due to severe deafness.

Legacy

... J. Russell Thomson did not forget the Ballarat Botanical Gardens in his will. We learn that after bequeathing various sums of money to relatives and friends he set aside the remainder (supposed to be substantial amount) for the purchase of statuary and other ornamentations for the Gardens.

Notes

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

THE ROYAL SAXON COMPANY.

SIR,-As your leader of to-day may, in referring to the comments passed on my letter in the Age, leave the impression on some minds that it was really the intention, or in the power of the directors, or legal manager of the Royal Saxon Company to forfeit the shares of defaulting shareholders, I beg to state, it could not be done. The deed is faulty, and if it could not be done legally by giving defaulters due notice, it must be apparent to the most common place mind that it could not be done illegally. It was only a threat, to have the call quickly paid so as to enable the company to get the more easily over a great financial difficulty-a threat, too, that could not be carried out.

Yours truly,

JAMES R. THOMSON.

Ballarat, l6th July.

External links

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C.K. Gervasoni