James Thomson (6 February 1779 – 27 April 1850) was an English industrial chemist who made a career and large reputation in calico printing.
[5] In 1801 Thomson was brought in as a middleman in negotiations for Count Rumford to hire Davy, by Thomas Richard Underwood of the Royal Institution.
[6] The Primrose Works, set up near Clitheroe in Lancashire in 1801, became Thomson's, in partnership with James Burton and John Chippendale.
[2] Some of the employees were later distinguished: Walter Crum FRS spent two years working for Thomson,[7] and he also employed Richard Cobden about 1826[8] and Lyon Playfair about 1841.
[9] Thomson gave evidence to a select committee of Parliament, on trade, manufactures and shipping, in 1833.