William Sinclair-Thomson (1845 - 1895)

Born 24 Jul 1845 in Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Jessie Methven (Cox) Sinclair-Thomson — married 6 Oct 1875 in Dundee City, Scotland, United Kingdom [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 19 Sep 1895 at age 50 in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Andrew Sinclair-Thomson [send private message]

Short Biography

William Sinclair-Thomson, MD, born in 1845 in Argyll, Scotland, graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1869. He practiced medicine in Peterborough, serving as Medical Officer of Health and guiding his brother StClair Thomson's medical education. Relocating to London, he continued his practice in Bayswater and Notting Hill while also providing care at the Kensington Free Dispensary. A proponent of healthcare reform, he testified before the House of Lords on Metropolitan Hospitals, advocating for governance, independence, and accessibility in healthcare. He proposed the establishment of an independent central board to supervise medical facilities and urged a balance between public, private, and voluntary healthcare provision while maintaining high standards. Sinclair-Thomson's legacy lies in his dedication to improving healthcare for all, particularly the underserved. He died in 1895 in Johannesburg, South Africa, leaving a lasting impact on the medical profession and healthcare policy.

Full Biography

William Sinclair-Thomson MD – Born 1845 in Argyll, Scotland. Died 1895 in Johannesburg South Africa.

William was given the name Sinclair as a middle name to connect him to his mother and grandfather John Sinclair of Lochaline who died in 1863 when William was 18. His father John Gibson Thomson died in 1869 when William was 24. It seems that he then began to combine Sinclair with his father's surname Thomson and in 1880 he wrote in the family bible that Sinclair-Thomson was to become his family surname from November 1880 and all his children and most of his siblings followed this.

Married on 6 Oct 1875 to Jessie Methven Cox – Born 6 July 1854 Died 30 Nov 1928. Daughter of George Addison Cox 1820-1899, one of the remarkable Cox family of Invertrossachs, Perthshire, Scotland.

William and Jessie had six children that lived to adulthood.

4 Sons:

• George Addison Lister Sinclair-Thomson (1876-1947),
• William Hamilton Heath Sinclair-Thomson (1878-1948),
• John Sinclair Gilroy Sinclair-Thomson (1879-1935) and
• Angus Eric Methven Sinclair-Thomson (1880-1961)

The sons were known as Lister, Hamilton, Gilroy and Angus.

Twin daughters:

• Laura Kathleen Sinclair-Thomson (1882-1956) and
• Jessie Sheila Sinclair-Thomson (1882-1959)

In 1869 William Sinclair-Thomson's father John Gibson Thomson died. At this time William had just qualified as a doctor at the University of Glasgow: MB CM (1866); MD (1869).

He then joined a GP practice in Peterborough (living at No. 20, Westgate, Peterborough) and became the Peterborough Medical Officer of Health 1873-1881. He became influential in the education of his youngest brother StClair Thomson. StClair Thomson was age ten at the time and he went to King's School, Peterborough, and afterwards William took him on as a pupil/apprentice. William had been a pupil at Glasgow University of Joseph Lister a pioneer of antiseptic surgery, and he wanted StClair to follow on. However, as Joseph Lister moved to London, StClair was sent to King's College Hospital, entering as a student on the same day, 1 October 1877, that Joseph Lister entered as professor of surgery.

William later moved from Peterborough to No. 1, Palace Court London W2, where he carried on a successful general practice covering Bayswater and Notting Hill.

During the 1880s, there were efforts to expand access to healthcare services for the poor and working classes. This included initiatives such as the establishment of outpatient clinics and dispensaries, which provided medical care to those who could not afford to pay for private treatment and William provided his part-time services as a physician at the Kensington Free Dispensary.

William also contributed to the evolution of thinking in the UK about medical care for the sick and poor in the 1890s when interviewed by the Select Committee of the House of Lords on Metropolitan Hospitals (See sources below). The interview record of Q&As illustrate William’s clear recognition of the need for reforms to address the shortcomings of existing systems and improve access to healthcare for all members of society and in particular for the sick and poor. They also reveal the difficulty, in the1890s, in reconciling key issues and conflicting tensions such as: -

• Governance and maintaining independence from Government.
• Independence and potential interrelationship between GPs, dispensaries and hospitals.
• Pros and Cons for generalist or specialist hospitals and departments.
• Teaching medical students in London hospitals or in a large London University
• Funding a mixed economy of health care, blending private, public and voluntary provision; and
• Balancing/managing patient need with identification of a patient’s ability to pay.

This interview gives an insight into William’s personal views and the transition taking place in the UK's approach to medical care for the sick and poor while maintaining high standards. For example, during his interview he advocated the establishment of an independent central Board to carry out supervision with inspectors who would visit dispensaries and hospitals (see Page 275 para 4384 onwards). See also in Google Books: Parliamentary Papers – Volume 16 - Page 274

Sources

• University of Glasgow Roll of Graduates Page 612 listed as THOMSON, WILLIAM SINCLAIR
• Dr William Sinclair-Thomson - Peterborough, Medical Officer of Health 1873-1881. See page 8 where he is appointed on 6th Feb 1873 and referred to as Dr W Thomson and then Page 8 where on 31st May 1881 a letter from Dr William Sinclair-Thomson gives notice that of resignation due to leaving Peterborough.: https://archive.org/details/b29987738/page/8/mode/2up?q=%22Sinclair+Thomson%22
• The 1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census records the following: William Thomson - Seafield Cottage, Lochgilphead, Argyllshire, Scotland - Birth Year 1846 and age 5 - Son of John G Thomson - Wool and Timber Merchant - Birth Year 1817 and age 34 and his wife Catherine Thomson - Birth Year 1822 and age 29. It also records one brother - John Sinclair Thomson - Birth Year 1847 and age 4 - Birth Town Morvern, Argyllshire. See: https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=GBC/1851/0019317572
• The 1881 England Wales and Scotland Census incorrectly records the family as Thompson (with a p) See: https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=GBC/1881/0007481708 and image
• The Lancet 1881-07-16: Vol 2 Iss 3020. Page 112. Dr. W. S. Thomson, on resigning the post of Medical Officer of Health to the Peterborough Urban and Rural Sanitary Authorities, was presented with the following highly satisfactory testimonials :—‘‘Resolved, that the thanks of the Rural Sanitary Authority of the Peterborough Union be given to Dr. W. Sinclair Thomson for the efficient manner in which he had discharged his duties as medical officer of health for the past five years.”
• Dr William Sinclair- Thomson contributed to the evolution of thinking in the UK about medical care for the sick and poor in the 1890s. British Parliamentary Papers. Report from the Select Committee of the House of Lords on Metropolitan Hospitals with minutes of evidence. Dr William Sinclair- Thomson gave evidence on 26th June 1890 and this is recorded on Pages 274-278.

Evidence given on 26th June 1890 and this is a copy of the first part of his evidence on Page 274

• Paper published in the Lancet – 16 July 1887 Page 106. On inhalation and the lack of precision in the method of using it; with a description of Dr, Isoard’s “Sulfhydrometre,” by W. Sinclair Thomson, M.D., F.R.C.S. Edn., Late consulting surgeon, Peterborough General Hospital, and Medical Officer of Health.
• Notice of death in The Lancet 1895-10-12: Vol 2 Iss 3763 At Johannesburg, South Africa, William Sinclair-Thomson M.D.,formerly of Palace-court, London, aged 50.
• Royal College of Surgeons of England. Lives of the Fellows. 1930-1951 Pages 767 to 771. Has a very comprehensive biography of his brother Sir St Clair Thomson. Reminiscences by Andrew Sinclair-Thomson is that the family inherits hearing difficulties in later years which he observed in his father ( Peter and grandfather Angus) and was referred to in family discussions with aunts Rachel and Eve. This biography has the first written record of this condition. On Page 768 it says that Sir St Clair Thomson “was a frequenter of the Old Vic and Sadlers Wells and the Malvern and Stratford dramatic festivals. Deafness in later years made him transfer his interest from plays to ballet.”

Research

Andrew Sinclair-Thomson would be very grateful for any information on Catherine Sinclair-Thomson, John Gibson Thomson and family.

• Any information as to why the family moved from Argyllshire, Scotland to live in Carnashannagh, Fahan, County Donegal, Ireland for 9 years (from c. 1853 to c. 1862) and where they had four children. Family records show that John Sinclair- Thomson was born in Morven, Argyllshire, Scotland, and educated at Foyle College, Londonderry (Presumably while the family lived in Fahan). It seems that he stayed in Ireland and joined the Northern Banking Company, Ireland and he and received the appointment of manager when only twenty-three years old. In 1879 (He served seventeen years in total). Records also show that their son StClair Thomson was born in 1859 Fahan, County Donegal and then educated at the village school at Ardrishaig, Argyll, Scotland till he was ten. Also their daughter Kate Sinclair-Thomson was born in Carnashannagh in 1861. What was John Gibson Thomson doing there and when did the family return to Scotland? Where was William Sinclair-Thomson and where was he educated during these 9 years (he would have been age c. 8 to 17)?

• Family memory passed down is that this family is related to Sir John "of Ulbster and First Baronet" . Sir StClair Thomson (William's brother) wrote on a postcard which had the Henry Raeburn picture of Sir John Sinclair that this was his great uncle. However, I have not been able to identify a verifiable connection. Grateful for any advice on this.