Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham
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The Right Honourable Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Syndenham GCB PC |
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| Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada | |
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In office 1839–1841 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Preceded by | Sir George Arthur, Bt |
| Succeeded by | Major General John Clitherow |
| Governor General of the Province of Canada | |
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In office 1839–1841 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Durham GCB |
| Succeeded by | Sir Charles Bagot |
| President of the Board of Trade | |
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In office 5 June – 14 November 1834 |
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| Monarch | William IV |
| Prime Minister |
The Earl Grey KG The Viscount Melbourne |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Auckland GCB |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Ashburton |
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In office 8 April 1835 – 29 August 1839 |
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| Monarch | William IV; Victoria |
| Prime Minister | The Viscount Melbourne |
| Preceded by | The Lord Ashburton |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Taunton |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
13 September 1799 Waverley Abbey, Farnham, Surrey |
| Died | 19 September 1841 (aged 42) Kingston, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Whig |
Charles Poulett Thomson, 1st Baron Sydenham GCB PC (13 September 1799 – 19 September 1841) was a British businessman, politician, diplomat and the first Governor General of the united Province of Canada.
Born at Waverley Abbey House, near Farnham, Surrey, Thomson was the son of John Buncombe Poulett Thomson, a London merchant, by his wife Charlotte, daughter of John Jacob. His father was the head of J. Thomson, T. Bonar and Company, a successful trading firm that had dealings with Russia.
After attending private schools until age 16, Thomson entered the family firm at Saint Petersburg. In 1817 he came home due to poor health, and embarked on a prolonged tour of southern Europe. He returned to Russia in 1821 and over the next three years travelled extensively in eastern Europe. He established permanent residence in London in 1824 but frequently visited the Continent, especially Paris.
Thomson was returned to the House of Commons as MP for Dover in 1826. In 1830 he joined Earl Grey's government as Vice-President of the Board of Trade and Treasurer of the Navy, an office he held until 1834. He was then President of the Board of Trade under Lord Melbourne in 1834 and again between 1835 and 1839. A free-trader and an expert in financial matters, he was elected MP for Manchester in 1832, a seat which he held until 1839. He was continuously occupied with negotiations affecting international commerce until 1839, when he accepted the Governorship of Canada.
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