Colmac 2014 ©
George Thomson (1815-1866) was born on 25th March
1815 in Partick. His first apprenticeship was as a
“millwright” after which he entered the works of Robert
Napier, the legendary engineer and shipbuilder who also trained the likes of William Denny, John Elder and William Pearce. During his time there Thomson developed considerable knowledge of marine and general engine work and became an assistant manager with the firm for several years. In 1846, along with his older brother James, he started a successful engineering company at Clyde Bank Foundry in Govan, from which they set up a shipbuilding branch at Bankton, just East of Govan in 1851. The first ship produced was the “Mountaineer”, launched on Thursday, 15th July 1852. This 175 ft paddle steamer was constructed for use on the West Highland trade routes, then run by David Hucheson, and later David MacBrayne. Around 40 vessels were made in total,
with names such as Clansman, Columba and Claymore
Thomson’s iron-hulled, schooner-rigged, screw steamer
Geo”The Fingal” (1861) gained great notoriety during the
American Civil War when the Confederate army used this
ship to break through a Union blockade at Savannah.
It was written that ‘No single ship ever took into the
Confederacy a cargo so entirely composed of military and naval supplies. “The Fingal” was later iron clad and
converted into a confederate warship called “The Atlanta”.
Later in the war this ship was captured by the Union, then renamed the “USS Atlanta” and subsequently used
against Southern troops at Richmond and Fort Powhatan.
During his lifetime George Thomson remained heavily devoted to his business and was rarely seen in public.
1815 in Partick. His first apprenticeship was as a
“millwright” after which he entered the works of Robert
Napier, the legendary engineer and shipbuilder who also trained the likes of William Denny, John Elder and William Pearce. During his time there Thomson developed considerable knowledge of marine and general engine work and became an assistant manager with the firm for several years. In 1846, along with his older brother James, he started a successful engineering company at Clyde Bank Foundry in Govan, from which they set up a shipbuilding branch at Bankton, just East of Govan in 1851. The first ship produced was the “Mountaineer”, launched on Thursday, 15th July 1852. This 175 ft paddle steamer was constructed for use on the West Highland trade routes, then run by David Hucheson, and later David MacBrayne. Around 40 vessels were made in total,
with names such as Clansman, Columba and Claymore
Thomson’s iron-hulled, schooner-rigged, screw steamer
Geo”The Fingal” (1861) gained great notoriety during the
American Civil War when the Confederate army used this
ship to break through a Union blockade at Savannah.
It was written that ‘No single ship ever took into the
Confederacy a cargo so entirely composed of military and naval supplies. “The Fingal” was later iron clad and
converted into a confederate warship called “The Atlanta”.
Later in the war this ship was captured by the Union, then renamed the “USS Atlanta” and subsequently used
against Southern troops at Richmond and Fort Powhatan.
During his lifetime George Thomson remained heavily devoted to his business and was rarely seen in public.
His yards employed more than 1,500 men. The last ship designed by George Thomson was a 3,000 ton steam powered vessel named the ‘Russia’ (1865), a mail ship for Cunard. At the time of its construction it was the largest and most important vessel operating on the Atlantic and was able to cross the ocean inside nine days. A kindly
and modest man, despite his success it is recorded that Thomson never lost the broad Anderston “Doric” in his speech.
He died on 29th June 1866, aged 51.
and modest man, despite his success it is recorded that Thomson never lost the broad Anderston “Doric” in his speech.
He died on 29th June 1866, aged 51.
THE FINGAL
(AKA THE ATLANTA)
(AKA THE ATLANTA)
