NOTEWORTHY FAMILIES
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recorder in connection with submarine telegraphy, of a new form of mariner's compass, etc. ; acted as electrical engineer for many submarine cables ; President of British Assoc., 1871, of Royal Soc., 1890-1895, and four times of Royal Soc., Edinburgh ; author of numerous mathematical and physical memoirs.-["Who's Who," and "Ency. Brit."]
fa, James Thomson (1786-1849), son of a small farmer in co. Down ; commenced the study of mathematics on his own initiative ; became Professor of Mathematics at Belfast, 1815, then at University of Glasgow, 1832 ; also a good classical scholar and astronomer; wrote the authorized mathematical text-books of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland.-[" Dict. N. Biog."]
bro, James Thomson (I822-1892), F.R.S., Hon. LL.D., Glasgow and Dublin, Professor of Civil Engineering, first at Queen's Coll., Belfast, 18571873, then at Glasgow, 1873-1889. Invented the " vortex water-wheel," 1850 ; numerous memoirs on physical investigations.-[" Dict. N. Biog.," and "Ency. Brit."]
bro, John Thomson, died young, having contracted hospital fever during medical study at Glasgow. Considered as able as his brothers.
Si son, James Thomson Bottomley, F.R.S. (y.v.).
Si son, George King, actuary and mathematician ; author of many original papers, and of an authoritative work on actuarial subjects.
