Robert Thomson (1824-1904) was a Church of Scotland minister.
Thomson was first licensed to preach in the Church of Scotland by the Presbytery of Dunfermline in 1858. He was appointed minister of the newly constituted parish of Ladywell and Wellpark in 1877, and remained there until his death. A colourful character, he made several unsuccessful attempts to enter Parliament. He was one of the founders of the Protestant Alliance, and an outspoken anti-Catholic.
The illustration shows Thomson perched on his powny-coach, in which he would parade around the city centre in his ecclesiastical garb, making himself the centre of attraction.
Reference: Mitchell Library, GC 920.04 BAI
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
anti-Catholicism, Church of Scotland, horses, Ladywell and Wellpark Church, ministers, powney-coach, powny-coaches, Protestant Alliance, sectarianism