John Thomson of Duddingston

John Thomson FRSE (1 September 1778 – 28 October 1840) was a Scottish minister and landscape painter. He was the minister of Duddingston Kirk from 1805 to 1840.

The youngest of eight children, Thomson was born in the manse at Dailly, Ayrshire, the fourth son of the local parish minister. From an early age, he displayed an aptitude for drawing and painting and, inspired by the Ayrshire countryside, developed a love for landscape painting. In 1791 he enrolled at Glasgow University to study law and theology, and in 1793 he transferred to Edinburgh University to continue his studies for the ministry. Whilst there, he met many people who were prominent in Edinburgh artistic circles, including Walter Scott, and Alexander Nasmyth, the latter of whom who gave him art lessons.

After graduating, Thomson returned to Ayrshire and was licensed as a preacher of the Gospel, and subsequently ordained as minister of Dailly in 1800. He later moved to Duddingston near Edinburgh and became the most famous minister of the local Kirk, holding the post from 1808 to 1840. Whilst at Duddingston a very fine portrait of him was painted by Robert Scott Lauder who married Thomson's daughter Isabella in 1833.

Thomson had a studio at the foot of the manse garden on the shore of Duddingston Loch. Later, this was replaced by Duddingston Tower, a structure designed for Duddingston Curling Society in 1825 by William Playfair. The Society used the ground floor as their clubhouse, and Thomson used the upper floor of the tower, known today as "Thomson's Tower", as his studio.

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