James Thom (sculptor)

With his younger brother Robert (1805–1895) he was apprenticed to Howie & Brown, builders of Kilmarnock, and, although he took little interest in the more ordinary part of his craft, he was fond of ornamental carving, in which he excelled.

William Brown, tenant of Trabboch Mill, served as model for Tam; no one could be induced to sit for the Souter, whose face and figure were surreptitiously studied from two cobblers in the neighbourhood of Ayr.

[1] The statues were secured for the Burns Monument at Alloway, and when completed were sent on tour by Auld to Ayr, Edinburgh (where they were praised by Sir Walter Scott) and Glasgow.

Recovering a portion of the money embezzled, he settled in Newark, New Jersey, where he executed replicas of his favourite groups, a statue of Burns, and various ornamental pieces for gardens.

While exploring the vicinity of Newark for stone suitable for his purposes, he discovered the valuable freestone quarry at Little Falls; the stonework and much of the architectural carving of Trinity Church, New York, were contracted for by him.