China: Through the Lens of John Thomson (1868-1872)
John Thomson was born June 14th 1837, in Edinburgh, Scotland. After his schooling in the early 1850s he completed his photographic apprenticeship around 1858. In April 1862, Thomson set off for Singapore. There he opened his first photo studio and became a commercial photographer. During this period, he traveled extensively throughout Asia, photographing the native peoples and their activities. He is the author of several books including The Antiquities of Cambodia (1867), Foochow and the River Min (1873), Illustrations of China and its people (1873), Street life in London (1878) and Through China with a Camera (1898). In 1881 he was appointed photographer to the British Royal Family by Queen Victoria. After retiring from his commercial studio in 1910, Thomson spent most of his time back in Edinburgh. In October 1921, Thomson died of a heart attack at the age of 84.