After qualifying as an advocate in Edinburgh he returned to the estate and did not pursue a career at the bar preferring to follow the life of a country gentleman.

His position in life allowed to give time to many interests including antiquarian studies, geology, biology and social reform.

On attaining majority, Mr Thomson was appointed a Deputy-Lieutenant for Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire; he was elected Dean of Marischal College; and he began to devote attention to the improvement of his estates, and to county business.

The house stands on a fine elevated position, and is a large and commodious structure, with the front and entrance towards the south.

During the journey, Mr Thomson made copious notes of his observations on the state of education in these countries, and their social and moral condition.

They spent about three years in Florence, Rome, and Naples, Antiquities, the geology and vegetation of the country, and more particularly its social and religious state, engaged his attention; and he carefully studied the doctrines and practices of Roman Catholicism.

[6] Resuming his public duties and literary and scientific pursuits, Mr Thomson shewed a deepened seriousness and increased interest in religious objects.

[7] In 1833 Mr Thomson spent a few months in Edinburgh, and having heard the discussions about patronage, as a Conservative, his fears were aroused "lest anything rash should be done."

In 1835 he visited Belgium ; and brought before the Highland Society the plan followed in that country for reclaiming waste land, and for cultivating flax and chicory.

[7] During the first half of the ten years' conflict Mr Thomson took no share in the discussions and deliberations which engrossed some of the Church of Scotland.

As a leading Aberdeenshire Conservative, and an intimate friend of Lord Aberdeen, Mr Thomson was the medium of conveying to his lordship a copy of that publication, and of others issued by the Evangelical party in the Church.

In the General Assembly of the Free Church of 1844, Mr. Thomson proposed a scheme for providing manses to the ministers; and the institution of a Theological Hall in Aberdeen was warmly supported by him.

Under his trust settlement he bequeathed to the Free Church College of Aberdeen, £16,000, and also the very valuable Library and Museum which he had collected at Banchory House.

[1] In the museum of Free Church College, Aberdeen there is deposited an antique watch which Mr Thomson possessed as an heirloom from his ancestor: John Knox.

Thomson wrote: "The unvarying tradition is that the watch was the property of the great Reformer, and, further, that it was presented to him by Queen Mary on some occasion when she wished to show favour to him, and that it has even since been preserved as an heirloom in the family.

"[13] The familial connection with Knox is given in Murdoch-Lawrance: Alexander Thomson was born 21 June 1798, at Banchory House, near Aberdeen.