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Dr. Robert B. C. Thomson,
successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at
Lethbridge, entered upon the work of the profession well trained for its
duties and responsibilities. His educational opportunities were broad
and comprehensive and he has always manifested a keen sense of
conscientious obligation in the performance of his daily task. Since
1910 he has made his home in Lethbridge and throughout this period has
enjoyed a large general practice. Dr. Thomson was born at Strathroy,
Ontario, December 30, 1872, and comes of Scotch and English ancestry.
His grandfather, James Thomson, was a native of the land of hills and
heather, in which he spent his life, working in the cotton mills. He was
the father of James Thomson, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and in
the year 1842 came to the new world, settling in Ontario. In his native
country he had been employed in the cotton mills but after reaching the
new world he turned his attention to farming. In the midst of the forest
he hewed out his farm, clearing his land and developing his fields until
he brought his place under a high state of cultivation. In Ontario he
wedded Pamley Bolton, who was born in Suffolk, England, and was a
daughter of William Bolton, also a native of Suffolk, whence he
emigrated to the new world, making Ontario his destination. There he was
employed by the government in the post office department. His daughter,
Pamley, was a young girl at the time of the establishment of the family
home in Ontario, where she was reared and married, the family having
settled there in the early part of the decade between 1830 and 1840. Mr.
and Mrs. Thomson continued their residence in Ontario until called to
their final rest and are survived by but one child, Dr. Thomson of this
review. They were members of the Scotch Presbyterian church and ill
political affiliation the father was a Liberal.
Dr. Thomson supplemented
his public school training by a course in the Collegiate Institute at
Strathroy, Ontario, and later entered the Toronto University, while
subsequently he became a student in the Western University of London,
Ontario, pursuing a course in both arts and medicine. The B. A. degree
was conferred upon him in 1899 and he won his professional degree from
the Manitoba University at Winnipeg in 1900. He then began practice in
Manitoba, where he followed his profession successfully for a decade,
after which he came to Lethbridge in 1910 and has here remained
throughout the intervening period of thirteen years. He has never
concentrated his efforts and attention along a single line but continues
in general practice and displays marked ability in the various branches
of the profession. At all times he has embraced every opportunity to
promote his knowledge and increase his efficiency and has taken
postgraduate work in electrical therapeutics. For a time he was located
in north Lethbridge but removed his office into the city. For eleven
years he has been connected with the board of health and during most of
this time has been secretary of the board, while oil occasions he has
been acting health officer. He belongs to the Lethbridge Medical Society
and the Canadian Medical Association and improves every chance to
broaden his knowledge and render his labors of the greatest possible
service to his fellowmen.
In 1902 1)i'. Thomson was
married to Miss Elizabeth Thomson, who was born in Thorndale, Ontario, a
daughter of James Thomson, who was a native of Scotland and on
emigrating to the new world settled in Ontario, where he still follows
farming. Dr. and Mrs. Thornson became parents of four children: James,
who is with the Canadian Bank of Commerce at Lethbridge; Homer, Ivan,
and Elizabeth. The wife and mother passed away in 1917, her death being
deeply regretted by many friends as well as by her immediate family.
Dr. Thomson is identified
with the Presbyterian church and fraternally is a Mason. He served as
the first master of Charity Lodge No. 67, A. F. & A. M., of Lethbridge,
and was also the first Noble Grand in Mizpah Lodge No. 72, I. 0. 0. F.,
and the first chancellor commander of Myrtle Lodge No. 3, K. of P. In
politics he is a liberal and his interest in the public welfare has been
manifest in many tangible and helpful ways. He is now serving on the
school board and was also a member of the board in the years 1913 and
1914. In young manhood he joined a military organization and when he
came to Lethbridge became medical officer of the Twenty-fifth Battery,
C. F. A. As a member of the Colonial Auxiliary Forces, he has received
the long service medal. He was resident medical officer during the World
war and acted as such for nearly all the troops recruited in this
section of the Dominion. His has been an active and useful life devoted
to the service and welfare of his fellowmen and his labors have indeed
been of far-reaching effect and importance. |
