Obituary from "Punch" newspaper Thu 14 Sep 1905 Page 13
THE LATE MR. ROBERT THOMSON.
By the death of the late Mr. Robert Thomson F.I.A., Melbourne commercial life has sustained a severe loss. His father, Professor James Thomson, was Professor of -Mathematics at the University of Glasgow ; and his two elder brothers were the late James Thomson, who held an engineering professorship, and the famous mathematician and engineer, Lord Kelvin. Mr Robert Thomson was born in Belfast in 1829. He came out to Australia in the early fifties, and became associated with the London and Liverpool Association, Sydney. In 1854 he became Secretary of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, and in 1861 secured the added position of actuary. He was the first man to employ an active canvassing agent. and secured the services of the well-known Benjamin Short. He resigned his position in 18065. He founded the Mutual Life Association, Sydney, for which he was secretary for some little time, and then drifted to Melbourne. With Mr. Martin, he helped to found the Australian Widows' Fund. In 1873 also in conjunction with Mr. Martin, he founded the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, becoming actuary to that institution, and retaining the position of consulting-actuary till his death. The manager of the society, Mr. Leslie Park, who was one of his most intimate friends, remarks that, apart from his high mathematical attainments, the late Mr. Thomson
was an accomplished scholar and a gentleman. And, though little known to the general
public, he was one of the brightest assurance men that ever set foot in Australia.
THE LATE MR. ROBERT THOMSON.
By the death of the late Mr. Robert Thomson F.I.A., Melbourne commercial life has sustained a severe loss. His father, Professor James Thomson, was Professor of -Mathematics at the University of Glasgow ; and his two elder brothers were the late James Thomson, who held an engineering professorship, and the famous mathematician and engineer, Lord Kelvin. Mr Robert Thomson was born in Belfast in 1829. He came out to Australia in the early fifties, and became associated with the London and Liverpool Association, Sydney. In 1854 he became Secretary of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, and in 1861 secured the added position of actuary. He was the first man to employ an active canvassing agent. and secured the services of the well-known Benjamin Short. He resigned his position in 18065. He founded the Mutual Life Association, Sydney, for which he was secretary for some little time, and then drifted to Melbourne. With Mr. Martin, he helped to found the Australian Widows' Fund. In 1873 also in conjunction with Mr. Martin, he founded the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, becoming actuary to that institution, and retaining the position of consulting-actuary till his death. The manager of the society, Mr. Leslie Park, who was one of his most intimate friends, remarks that, apart from his high mathematical attainments, the late Mr. Thomson
was an accomplished scholar and a gentleman. And, though little known to the general
public, he was one of the brightest assurance men that ever set foot in Australia.
Obituary from "Punch" newspaper Thu 14 Sep 1905 Page 13
THE LATE MR. ROBERT THOMSON.
By the death of the late Mr. Robert Thomson F.I.A., Melbourne commercial life has sustained a severe loss. His father, Professor James Thomson, was Professor of -Mathematics at the University of Glasgow ; and his two elder brothers were the late James Thomson, who held an engineering professorship, and the famous mathematician and engineer, Lord Kelvin. Mr Robert Thomson was born in Belfast in 1829. He came out to Australia in the early fifties, and became associated with the London and Liverpool Association, Sydney. In 1854 he became Secretary of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, and in 1861 secured the added position of actuary. He was the first man to employ an active canvassing agent. and secured the services of the well-known Benjamin Short. He resigned his position in 18065. He founded the Mutual Life Association, Sydney, for which he was secretary for some little time, and then drifted to Melbourne. With Mr. Martin, he helped to found the Australian Widows' Fund. In 1873 also in conjunction with Mr. Martin, he founded the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, becoming actuary to that institution, and retaining the position of consulting-actuary till his death. The manager of the society, Mr. Leslie Park, who was one of his most intimate friends, remarks that, apart from his high mathematical attainments, the late Mr. Thomson
was an accomplished scholar and a gentleman. And, though little known to the general
public, he was one of the brightest assurance men that ever set foot in Australia.
THE LATE MR. ROBERT THOMSON.
By the death of the late Mr. Robert Thomson F.I.A., Melbourne commercial life has sustained a severe loss. His father, Professor James Thomson, was Professor of -Mathematics at the University of Glasgow ; and his two elder brothers were the late James Thomson, who held an engineering professorship, and the famous mathematician and engineer, Lord Kelvin. Mr Robert Thomson was born in Belfast in 1829. He came out to Australia in the early fifties, and became associated with the London and Liverpool Association, Sydney. In 1854 he became Secretary of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, and in 1861 secured the added position of actuary. He was the first man to employ an active canvassing agent. and secured the services of the well-known Benjamin Short. He resigned his position in 18065. He founded the Mutual Life Association, Sydney, for which he was secretary for some little time, and then drifted to Melbourne. With Mr. Martin, he helped to found the Australian Widows' Fund. In 1873 also in conjunction with Mr. Martin, he founded the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, becoming actuary to that institution, and retaining the position of consulting-actuary till his death. The manager of the society, Mr. Leslie Park, who was one of his most intimate friends, remarks that, apart from his high mathematical attainments, the late Mr. Thomson
was an accomplished scholar and a gentleman. And, though little known to the general
public, he was one of the brightest assurance men that ever set foot in Australia.
Gravesite Details
Age: 76
Family Members
Parents
Spouse
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
