A Brief James Thomson Bio

Thomson (James), Pessimistic poet, b. Port Glasgow, 23 Nov. 1834. Educated at the Caledonian Asylum, London, he became a schoolmaster in the army, where he met Mr. Bradlaugh, whom he afterwards assisted on the National Reformer. To this paper he contributed many valuable essays, translations, and poems, including his famous “City of Dreadful Night,” the most powerful pessimistic poem in the English language, (April, ’74, afterwards published with other poems in ’80). “Vane’s Story” with other poems was issued in ’81, and “A Voice from the Nile,” and “Shelley” (privately printed in ’84). Thomson also contributed to the Secularist and Liberal, edited by his friend Foote, who has published many of his articles in a volume entitled Satires and Profanities, which includes “The Story of a Famous Old Jewish Firm,” also published separately. Thomson employed much of his genius in the service of Freethought. Died 3 June, 1882. [315]