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George Thomson

1757 – 1851

Collector of the music of Scotland, music publisher, and friend of Robert Burns

Musicologist
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About George Thomson

Lived 1757 – 1851 (aged 93). George Thomson was a Scottish musicologist.

George Thomson (1757–1851) was a Scottish music publisher and a friend of Robert Burns. He was clerk to the board of trustees in Edinburgh for 60 years. His A Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs for the Voice came out in six volumes between 1793 and 1841, and included contributions from Burns, Lord Byron, Thomas Moore, Walter Scott and Thomas Campbell. Thomson published folksong arrangements by Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Ignaz Pleyel, Carl Maria von Weber,

Burns wrote:

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Important facts

Born
4 March 1757, Limekilns
Birth century
18th century
Died
18 February 1851, Edinburgh
Occupation
Musicologist
Nationality
Scotland

People in George Thomson's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Portrait of Lord Byron
Lord Byron
1788 – 1824
Poet
 Portrait of Walter Scott
Walter Scott
1771 – 1832
Poet
 Portrait of Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria von Weber
1786 – 1826
Composer
 Portrait of Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
1732 – 1809
Composer
 Portrait of Thomas Campbell
Thomas Campbell
1777 – 1844
Poet
 Portrait of Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore
1779 – 1852
Poet
 Portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
1770 – 1827
Composer
 Portrait of Ignaz Pleyel
Ignaz Pleyel
1757 – 1831
Piano maker

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped George Thomson's

Portrait of Johann Hedwig
Johann Hedwig
1730 – 1799
Botanist
 Portrait of Nevil Maskelyne
Nevil Maskelyne
1732 – 1811
Mathematician
 Portrait of John Morgan
John Morgan
1735 – 1789
Military physician
 Portrait of Edward Waring
Edward Waring
1736 – 1798
Mathematician
 Portrait of Antoine Lavoisier
Antoine Lavoisier
1743 – 1794
Chemist
 Portrait of Joseph Banks
Joseph Banks
1743 – 1820
Botanist

Frequently asked questions

Who was George Thomson?

collector of the music of Scotland, music publisher, and friend of Robert Burns (1757-1851)

When was George Thomson born?

George Thomson was born on 4 March 1757 in Limekilns.

When did George Thomson die?

George Thomson died on 18 February 1851 in Edinburgh.

What was George Thomson's occupation?

George Thomson was a musicologist.

What nationality was George Thomson?

George Thomson was Scottish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: George Thomson

· Wikidata: Q5545192

· DBpedia: George Thomson (musician)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). George Thomson. https://biography.guide/george-thomson-musicologist/

MLA: "George Thomson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/george-thomson-musicologist/.

Chicago: "George Thomson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/george-thomson-musicologist/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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