John Sen Inches Thomson

John Sen Inches Thomson (1844–1933), was a Scottish whaler and sealer, ship owner, captain, inventor and author.

In 1877, Inches Thomson and his crew were sailing on Bencleugh when she shipwrecked during a terrific gale off Macquarie Island, Tasmania, Australia.

In 1912, Inches Thomson released a book detailing the highlights of his sea voyages, including his time as a castaway.

They were part owners of the sailing ships Parisian, Superb and Othello and fully owned the Redcliffe, Bencleugh, Friendship, S.S. Peninsula and S.S. Jane.

[1][2] It was named after the Ben Line's Bencleuch which their father Watson and cousins Andrew, Alexander and William were part owners of.

[1] His first attempt failed and he was pushed back by the sea, but his second effort to swim through the kelp fields and the icy water was successful.

[4] Many of the crew had tossed their coats and shoes in preparation for their swim to shore, so even the minimal protection the huts provided was a welcome relief.

[5] In 1912, Inches Thomson's book, Voyages and Wanderings in Far Off Lands and Seas, was published by Headley Brothers, London.

[6] The book detailed Inches Thomson's experiences sailing the seas as a sealer and whaler, including his four months stranded on Macquarie Island.

The Scotsman Newspaper's review of the book opened with this gracious summary: "Mr. Thomson's all too brief narrative of the incidents on his voyages and wanderings must be given a high place among the literature of travel and adventure.

When the partnership was dissolved in mid 1884, John moved to Melbourne where he patented the 'black box' forerunner, a maritime device for recording the course of a vessel[8] and an improved pneumatic butter churn which sold well.

[11] A full collection of newspaper articles on John, his brother Andrew and the businesses of Thomson Bros, Port Chalmers has been published in 2024.