Mowbray Thomson

Military portrait of Colonel Mowbray Thomson from an Afghanistan Album (1879-80) of rare historical photographs by John Burke (photographer), Sir Benjamin Simpson KCIE, and others. General Sir Mowbray Thomson (1 April 1832 – 25 February 1917) was an officer in the British East India Company and one of the only two survivors from the Cawnpore garrison.

Early life and education Mowbray Thomson was born in "Bhurtpore" (modern-day Bharatpur, Rajasthan), India, on 1 April 1832, the son of Dr Richard Mowbray Martin Thomson (1799–1848), a marine surgeon at Calcutta, and Mary, née Prendergast. He was educated in England and attended Addiscombe Military Seminary as a cadet. Military career In 1853 he received a commission in the 53rd Bengal Native Infantry, a regiment in the British East India Company. During the Indian Mutiny of 1857, Thomson played a key role in the defence of Wheeler's Entrenchment during the Siege of Cawnpore. He was one of the few survivors of the siege and subsequent massacre at Sati Chaura Ghat.

Thomson was invalided to England, heavily wounded, and promoted to brevet-major. While convalescing in England, he wrote The Story of Cawnpore, a first-hand account of the siege, which was published in 1859.

After returning to India, he was given a civilian post as Political Agent at Manipur and later appointed Agent to the Governor-General for Wajid Ali Shah, the former King of Oudh. He retired in 1885 with the army rank of major-general and was promoted to full general in 1894.

Family Thomson married Mary Ironside Money (1835-1903) on November 26, 1859, in Calcutta, and the couple had five children. Mowbray Townshend Thomson, the eldest and only son, rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the 4th Goorkha Rifles.

Mowbray Thomson's younger sister, Elizabeth (Eliza) Thomson (1833–1907), married James Sant R.A., Queen Victoria's portrait painter.

Memorial A brass plaque commemorating Gen. Sir Mowbray Thomson KCIE is located in the All Souls' Memorial Church in Kanpur, India (Protestant).