| James Thomson | |
| Order: | Director General de Escuelas of |
| Office: | Buenos Aires |
| Term Start: | 1819 |
| Term End: | 1821 |
| Birth Date: | September 1, 1788 |
| Birth Place: | Creetown, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland |
| Death Date: | February 25, 1854 |
| Death Place: | London, England |
| Nationality: | Scottish |
| Occupation: | Minister |
| Profession: | Teaching |
James Diego Thomson (1788–1854) was a Scottish Baptist Pastor, and educator.[1] He served as schoolmaster in South America where Thomson applied the Lancasterian system.[2]
Thomson was born 1788 in Creetown, Scotland, the son of William Thomson and Janet Burnett, belonging to a family that professed the Presbyterian religion.[3] After completing his secondary studies, he enrolled in medicine and theology at Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities and later took a doctorate at McGill University in Canada. He learned the Spanish language, and served as a pastor in a village in Scotland.[4]
In 1818, James Thomson arrived at the port of Buenos Aires. He had been commissioned by the British and Foreign Bible Society, to carry out the education system created by Joseph Lancaster.[5] During his stay in Argentina, he was in charge of instructing the teachers of Buenos Aires.[6] After the successful implementation of the Lancastrian system in the Río de la Plata, Thomson was appointed director of schools in Buenos Aires, a position he had held until 1821.[7]
In 1821, Thomson was hired by the government of Chile.[8] And in 1822, was invited by the General José de San Martín to visit the city of Lima, in order to introduce a modern education system.[9]
James Diego Thomson was appointed an honorary citizen of the United Provinces of the River Plate, for his great contribution to national public education.[10]