James Thomson was born in Ednam in Roxburghshire around 11th September 1700 and baptised on 15th September. He was the fourth of nine children to father Thomas, the Presbyterian minister of Ednam and mother Beatrix. Apart from the exact date of his birth several other facts of his life cannot be verified. It is thought Thomson may have attended the parish school of Southdean, his father having been appointed minster there a few months after the...