THOMSON, JAMES ALLAN (1881-1928) was born in Dunedin, the son of G. M. Thomson (q.v.). Educated at Kaikorai district school and the Otago Boys' High School, he gained a senior scholarship and was a prizeman in science (1899). At Otago University he took a high place in the School of Mines, was president of the students' union; graduated B.Sc. (1903) and took first-class honours in geology (1904). He was elected as the first Rhodes scholar from New Zealand and awarded the 1851 Exhibition Scholarship. Entering St John's College, Oxford, he graduated M.A. and became a demonstrator in petrology. He married (1909) Gertrude Alice, daughter of Peter Keam. After carrying out scientific surveys in Western Australia, he was chosen as geologist to Scott's Antarctic expedition, but owing to incipient phthisis could not proceed. Instead he accepted a post in the geological survey of New Zealand (1911), and in 1914 became director of the Dominion Museum. Thomson died on 6 May 1928. He contributed many papers to the New Zealand Institute, of which he was president (1928) and which awarded him the Hutton medal (1923).

Thomson, op. cit. and The Taieri Allans and Related Families, 1829 (p); Who's Who N.Z., 1924; Otago Daily Times, 8 May; The Dominion, 7 May 1928 (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 194

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