[1] Born into an Ulster-Scots family on 13 November 1786, Thomson was the fourth son of Agnes Nesbit and James Thomson, a small farmer, at Annaghmore, near Ballynahinch, County Down (the house was later called Spamount), in Ulster.

[2] Wishing to become a minister of the Presbyterian church, in 1810 he entered the University of Glasgow where he studied for several sessions, supporting himself by teaching in the Ballykine school during the summer.

[3] In 1829 the honorary degree of LLD was conferred upon him by the University of Glasgow, where in 1832 he was appointed sixth professor of mathematics.

He is buried on the northern slopes of the Glasgow Necropolis to the east of the main bridge entrance.

[4] He was the author of the schoolbooks that passed through many editions: A paper ‘Recollections of the Battle of Ballynahinch, by an Eye-witness,’ which appeared in the Belfast Magazine for February 1825, was from his pen.