Thomson Bonar

Thomson Bonar (* 1738 or 1739, † 25 July 1814) was a wine-merchant who married Elizabeth, the daughter of the engraver Andrew Bell,[1] who co-founded the Encyclopædia Britannica with Colin Macfarquhar.

Bonar was friendly to the article authors, and introduced the policy of paying them as well as the article reviewers, and of allowing them to retain copyright for separate publication of their work.

Bell's successor, Archibald Constable, wisely bought out Bonar's copyright for the 5th edition and kept him as an ally of the Britannica.

He is buried in the northern section of St Cuthberts Churchyard in Edinburgh.

The stone backs onto the access path from Princes Street.