Dugald Thomson

Dugald Thomson (28 December 1849 – 27 November 1922) was an Australian politician and businessman. He campaigned for Federation as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (1894–1901), and was subsequently elected to the new federal House of Representatives (1901–1910). He served as Minister for Home Affairs in the Reid government from 1904 to 1905.

Early life Thomson was born on 28 December 1849 in Camberwell, London, England. He was the son of Scottish parents Jane (née Duncan) and John Thomson; his father was an insurance broker.

Thomson and his family immigrated to Australia in 1850, initially settling in South Australia and later moving to Victoria. He was sent to England to complete his education and trained with his uncle in Liverpool, later spending two years at sea. Thomson returned to Melbourne at the age of nineteen and joined Robert Harper & Co., a merchant firm. He established a Sydney branch of the company in 1877 and served as managing partner until 1892. He was also a business partner of James Garvan in the North Shore Steam Ferry Company. He was appointed as a director of the company and in 1891 was involved in a public spat with Presbyterian missionary John Gibson Paton over the company's operations. He remained as a director after his election to parliament and served until Burns, Philp & Co. took over the business in 1897.

New South Wales politics Thomson won the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Warringah in 1894 and supported the Free Trade ministry of George Reid, although he opposed its legislation on workplace conditions, made necessary by its dependence on Labor Party support. During his period in parliament he spoke often on maritime matters, and served on two royal commissions.

In July 1909, Thomson was elected president of the newly formed New South Wales Federal Liberal League.

Thomson died in the Sydney suburb of Kirribilli at the age of 72, unmarried.