Born at Montrose, and was apprenticed to his uncle, Mr Thom, of Dolcross, and afterwards at the College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. He practised at Cheadle from 1843-1854, and then succeeded Enoch Dunkerley, of Green Acres Moor, Oldham. He acquired a very large practice, but his health breaking down in 1864, he took as partner his brother-in-law, James O Bradbury, who died in 1872, and he was then joined by Dr George Thomson. In September, 1873, his health became permanently impaired through a slight stroke. He ceased his professional activities and retired in the closing months of 1878. Thomson took an active part in organizing Oldham Infirmary in 1872, and succeeded in getting the principle of payment for medical services recognized. He was also the organizer of a system for checking the abuses of local charity. He was a zealous and hard-working magistrate, and as such was a member of the County Finance Committee and a Visiting Justice of Asylums. On January 26th, 1884, he was overtaken by another seizure, and died at his residence, Montrose House, Oldham, on January 29th, 1884. He was buried in the churchyard of Turton, and was survived by a widow, a son and a daughter.