Anthony Todd Thomson

THOMSON, ANTHONY TODD (1778–1849), physician, younger son of Alexander Thomson, was born in Edinburgh, where his parents were staying temporarily, on 7 Jan. 1778. His father was postmaster-general and a member of the council of the province of Georgia, and collector of customs for the town of Savannah. Anthony returned to America with his parents soon after Anthony Todd, postmaster of Edinburgh, had stood sponsor to him as his godson; but when peace was declared after the American war, his father, in common with many American loyalists, threw up his appointments, and settled in Edinburgh with a small pension from the government. Thomson was brought up by Mrs. Rennie, who afterwards became his stepmother. He was educated at the high school, and was nominated, by his godfather's interest, to a clerkship in the Edinburgh post office. He graduated doctor of medicine at the university of Edinburgh in 1799, and in November of the same year he became a member of the Royal Medical Society. He had previously been admitted a member of the Speculative Society, 27 Feb. 1798, and there formed a lifelong friendship with Lord Brougham, having already gained the affection of Henry (afterwards Lord) Cockburn.

In 1828 he became the first professor of materia medica and therapeutics at London University (now University College London). In 1832, on the death of John Gordon Smith, he was appointed joint professor of medical jurisprudence with Andrew Amos. In 1837 Amos was appointed a member of the Governor-General's Council of India and so Thomson became sole professor.

He married twice. In 1801 he married Christina Maxwell, and they had one son and two daughters, but she died in 1820. In 1820 he married Katherine Byerley, a prolific writer. She was the daughter of Thomas Byerley, connected with the Wedgwood pottery. They had three sons and five daughters, including Elizabeth, mother of Rennell Rodd, 1st Baron Rennell.

• The London Dispensatory. 2nd Ed. London : Longman, 1818. Digital edition by the University and State Library Düsseldorf
• The London Dispensatory. 3rd Ed. London : Longman, 1822. Digital edition by the University and State Library Düsseldorf
• The London Dispensatory. 4th Ed. London : Longman, 1826. Digital edition by the University and State Library Düsseldorf
• The London Dispensatory. 5th Ed. London : Longman, 1830. Digital edition by the University and State Library Düsseldorf
  • A. Braune (Übersetzer). A. T. Thomson’s Vereinigte Pharmacopoeen der Londoner, Edinburgher und Dubliner Medicinal-Collegien. Nach der fünften Original-Ausgabe, und als Übersicht der Britischen Arzneymittel-Lehre, mit Zusätzen. Ernst Fleischer, Leipzig 1827 Digital edition
• The London dispensatory. Containing I. The elements of Pharmacy. II. The botanical description, natural histoty, chymical analysis, and medical properties, of the substances of the materia medica. III. The pharmaceutical preparations and compositions of the Pharmacopeeias of London, Edinburgh and Dublin. 8th Ed. Longman, London 1836 Digital edition

• A. T. Thomson's Vereinigte Pharmacopeen der Londoner, Edinburgher und Dubliner Medicinal-Collegien. Fleischer, Leipzig 1827 digital

• "Thomson, Anthony Todd" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.