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George Walker Thomson

1883 – 1949

Scottish trade unionist

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About George Walker Thomson

Lived 1883 – 1949 (aged 65–66). George Walker Thomson was a trade unionist.

George Walker Thomson (1883 – 7 July 1949) was a Scottish trade unionist.

Born in Glasgow, Thomson studied at Allan Glen's School and the Glasgow School of Art. During this time, he became a supporter of guild socialism, and for a while was secretary of the Clarion Scouts in the city.

Although he began working as a model builder, he soon followed his father into engineering, completing an apprenticeship with Ross & Duncan before studying at the Royal Technical College. He then worked as a draughtsman designing boilers and joined the new Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen (AESD). He was elected to its executive in 1917, where was a close associate of general secretary Peter Doig, who had studied with Thomson at the School of Art, and he became the union's convenor later the same year.

During World War I, Thomson was joint editor of The Guildsman, the Glasgow publication of the National Guilds League. This experience enabled him to become editor of the AESD's revived publication, The Draughtsman, in 1918, working full-time on the publication from 1920 until 1948, when he retired due to poor health.

In 1935, Thomson was elected to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), and he served as President of the TUC in 1946/47 He was also active in the National Federation of Professional Workers and the Labour Party, where he was secretary of the Science Advisory Committee.

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Important facts

Born
1883
Birth century
Occupation
Education
Glasgow School of Art, University of Strathclyde, Allan Glen's School

People in George Walker Thomson's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

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Frequently asked questions

Who was George Walker Thomson?

Scottish trade unionist

When was George Walker Thomson born?

George Walker Thomson was born in 1883.

When did George Walker Thomson die?

George Walker Thomson died on 7 July 1949.

What was George Walker Thomson's occupation?

George Walker Thomson was a trade unionist.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: George Walker Thomson

· Wikidata: Q20739099

· DBpedia: George Walker Thomson

Cite this page

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

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

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

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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