Thomson, Edward William

  • DICTIONARY OF CANADIAN BIOGRAPHY ARTICLE: Ann MacKenzie, “THOMSON (Thompson), EDWARD WILLIAM,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 9, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–. https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/thomson_edward_william_9E.html
  • DCB profile notes:
    • Farmer, militia officer, and politician; b. January 1794 at Kingston, Upper Canada, son of loyalists Archibald Thomson, a carpenter, and Elizabeth McKay; d. 20 April 1865 in York Township, Canada West. Thomson married first in 1815 Sarah Maria Terry of Scarborough Township, by whom he had three sons and four daughters; secondly, in 1829 Mary (d. 1832), daughter of Jesse Ketchum, by whom he had two children; and thirdly, in 1834, Selina Lee, widow of Dr Archibald Chisholm, the first physician to practise in London, Upper Canada, by whom he had one daughter.
    • Thomson made his greatest contribution in the field of agriculture, first as a founder in 1830 and president of the Home District Agricultural Society, and later as the first president of the Provincial Agricultural Association, established in 1846, and of the York County Agricultural Society, founded in 1850. Thomson advocated the improvement of farm stock and produce, and he imported and bred pure livestock on his own farm. He also supported the domestic manufacture of agricultural implements, and the establishment of a model farm and agricultural museum. He was a Canadian representative at the exhibitions of 1851 and 1862 in London.
    • Thomson was, at various times, a magistrate, warden of the Home District, a founder and trustee of Queen’s College at Kingston, and vice-president of the Upper Canada Bible Society. He was also president of the Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and a director of the Farmers’ Joint Stock Banking Company and of the Canada Landed Credit Company. He died on 20 April 1865 while walking to Toronto from his farm for a meeting of the council of the Provincial Agricultural Association.
  • Son of United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=8381
  • Find A Grave : https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/237510496/edward_william-thomson