TheGlasgowStory 

Skip Navigation / Jump to Content

Featured Images

The Shack Ablaze, 2004
The Shack Ablaze, 2004

Amateur Concert
Amateur Concert

Thomas Thomson

Mitchell Library, Glasgow Collection

*Open in New Window
Thomas Thomson

A Thomas Annan photograph of a portrait of Thomas Thomson (1773-1852). The painting was by John Graham-Gilbert. In 1818 Thomson became Regius Professor of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow, a post he held until his death.

Thomson graduated MD from the University of Edinburgh in 1799. As a young man he contributed many articles for the Encyclopaedia Britannica and was an editor, 1796-1800. He became a chemist and earned a reputation across Europe for his work. He introduced the use of symbols in chemical science. He investigated malting and the production of whisky for the British government, which was attempting to impose tighter Excise legislation, and he invented the instrument known as Allan’s Saccharometer. He was the author of Systems of Chemistry (1802) and other influential scientific works as well as a critically acclaimed history of the Royal Society.

Reference: Mitchell Library, GC 920.041435 COR

Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning

Keywords:
Allan's Saccarometer, Annals of Philosophy, chemical symbols, Chemistry, chemists, distilling, Excise, History of the Royal Society, portraits, Professors, Systems of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, whisky distillation



Quick Search


Photo Album

You have 0 images in your photo album.

View Photo Album

Log-In (Optional)

username:
password:
Not a user? Register now for FREE!

Other Options