William Thomson (1746–1817) was a Scottish minister, historian and miscellaneous writer. He often wrote under the pseudonym of Captain Thomas Newte and this fictitious character had his own history and received independent recognition.
Life.
Born in the parish of Forteviot, Perthshire, he was son of Matthew Thomson, builder, carpenter, and farmer, by his wife, who was the daughter of the schoolmaster of Avintully, near Dunkeld, with surname Miller. Educated at the parish school, Perth grammar school, and St. Andrews University, he became librarian at Dupplin Castle, Perthshire, to Thomas Hay, 9th Earl of Kinnoull. The Earl encouraged him to study for the Church of Scotland, and promised him a parish in his patronage. Completing his theological studies at St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Thomson was ordained on 20 March 1776 assistant to James Porteous, the minister of Monivaird, Perthshire; but his habits and tastes clashed with the post. After complaints by parishioners, he resigned on 1 October 1778, and went to London as a man of letters.
At first unsuccessful, Thomson depended on an income from the Earl of Kinnoull. On 31 October 1783 he received an honorary degree of LL.D. from Glasgow University, and shortly found plenty of work. In 1790 he supported John Leslie by giving him work. Shortly afterwards he joined the circle of Joseph Johnson.
Thomson died at his house at Kensington Gravel Pits, on 16 February 1817.
Captain Thomas Newte.
Newte was fictionally born in Devonshire in 1752, therefore being slightly younger than the true Thomson. He claimed to be a landowner in Devonshire and to own several ships run by the East India Company. In 1793 "Newte" was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh during a visit to that city. His proposers were Dugald Stewart, Sir James Hall, and John Playfair.
The notable book published (to much acclaim) by Newte was "Prospects and Observations on a Tour of England and Scotland" published in 1791.
Works.
Thomson made a reputation with his continuation of Robert Watson's "History of Philip III of Spain", 1783, for which he wrote the fifth and sixth books. During the rest of his life, he wrote pamphlets, memoirs, biographies, voyages, travels, and treatises. He tried novels and dramas, collaborated with others, and used pseudonyms.
Thomson's main works include:
Thomson also:
A five-act tragedy, "Caledonia, or the Clans of Yore", appeared posthumously in 1818. Thomson prepared from 1790 to 1800 the historical part of Dodsley's "Annual Register".
From 1794 to December 1796 Thomson owned "The English Review", and largely wrote its content. When he gave up the ownership it was incorporated into the "Analytical Review". He also wrote for the "European Magazine", the "Political Herald", "The Oracle", and the "Whitehall Evening Post". In politics, he defended the French Revolution in 1792 in an open letter to Samuel Parr; and as the columnist "Ignotus" in "The Oracle" he supported Charles James Fox.
Family.
Thomson was twice married, firstly to Diana Miltone, who was Scottish. His second wife was a novelist, who wrote "The Labyrinth of Life" and other works. There were children by both marriages.
Notes.
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 incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: 