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Samuel Thomson

Samuel Thomson (June 15, 1784 - June 10, 1850) was an American architect, builder and entrepreneur who significantly contributed to the evolving landscape of New York City during the early and mid-19th century. Thomson is a 1st cousin 1x removed from Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress. Despite his lack of formal education, Thomson's enterprise and acumen led to him becoming one of the most respected and prosperous citizens in New York City.

Early Life and Career

Thomson was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on June 15, 1784. He spent his youth apprenticed as a carpenter. In 1804, he moved to New York City where he began his career as a builder and rapidly ascended to become one of the city's leading figures in the trade.

Over his career, Thomson mastered various architectural styles, including the Federal style and the then-prevalent Greek Revival "mania," and even dabbled in Gothic designs. His robust and diverse portfolio of constructions led to his accumulation of substantial wealth.

Thomson's building career was temporarily interrupted in 1812 when he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the New York State Militia during the war against Britain. He rose through the ranks to become a Major and commanded the Third Regiment of Heavy Artillery at Fort Gansevoort.

Return to Building

By the autumn of 1818, Thomson had resumed his building career, specializing in brick row houses and stores. He entered a partnership with James Journeay and in 1822, the duo constructed 18 four-story houses for Morgan Lewis, the former Governor of New York State. By 1826, Thomson dissolved his partnership with Journeay and partnered with his eldest son, William Archibald. The firm was then known as Thomson & Son, Builders, Lumber Street.

Thomson's notable works included the Center Hall of Sailors Snug Harbor on Staten Island, designed by Minard Lafever, in 1831. He returned in 1839 to supervise the construction of the flanking wings. In Manhattan, on land owned by Sailors Snug Harbor, Thomson purchased a leasehold and built Number 4 Washington Square North, with the entire row being attributed to his work.

Other Projects and Interests

As a contemporary described him: "There was that very comfortable atmosphere about him that belongs to men who have been uniformly successful in their business enterprises. He was a most industrious man"

Thomson expanded his interests beyond building. He was the 1,305th member of the General Society of Mechanics & Tradesmen of New York City and a director of the Merchants Exchange Bank. He was also an original subscriber of the Mechanics Bank, a trustee of the New York Life & Trust Company, and the founder (and builder) of the Gothic Revival Mt. Washington Valley Presbyterian Church.

On August 23, 1833, Thomson became one of the first directors of the New York & Harlem Railroad. The previous month, he signed a contract with the railroad to build "at Yorkville, a two-story house or messuage," which would be known as Prospect Hall or "Nowlan's Hotel". Thomson bought Prospect Hall from the railroad and owned it for nearly two decades.

On October 24, 1837, Samuel Thomson entered into an agreement to superintend the building of the Leake & Watts Orphan House at Amsterdam Avenue and West 112th Street with Ithiel Town being the architect.

He also built In 1837, Thomson built the Scotch Presbyterian Church at the corner of Grand and Crosby streets. This church was "constructed of common blue stone, stuccoed, and Morrisania white marble," according to church records.

New York Custom House

In January 1833, the United States Treasury Department held a competition for a new Custom House design. Thomson submitted plans for a Parthenon-inspired building, but they were lost in a fire at the U.S. Treasury that occurred in March of the same year. Despite the loss of Thomson's submittal, President Andrew Jackson appointed him to supervise the construction of the Custom House on October 18, 1833. The architectural firm of Town and Davis initially won the design award but the firm was dismissed and their plans were subsequently adjusted by Thomson at the request of the government appointed commissioners. The most significant alteration was to lower the magnificent rotunda inside the building as it is built today.

With the building partially constructed, Thomson resigned his position in a dispute over his compensation. Angered, he removed all the plans and drawings he had made, effectively closing the job for months as the marble, already cut, piled up on Whitehall dock near the Battery.

An agent was sent to Thomson's home with an offer of $3,000.00 dollars for the return of the drawings Thomson stood firm, refusing to relinquish the plans and marble templates "at any price." He expressed his frustration in a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury, stating, "I know not how often you may change my wages. Satan of old from the east changed his son-in-law (Jacob's) wages 10 times in 20 years, if you had a chance the Lord only knows how often you would change mine, but I believe you would change it 10 times 10." Following his resignation, his son, William Archibald Thomson, was appointed to his position. However, William shortly also abruptly resigned, and the sculptor John Frazee took the project to completion.

Later Life

Unfazed by the turmoil, Thomson focused on building his country estate on 90 acres of land he purchased from the Dykeman family on the northern tip of Manhattan now known as Inwood Hill. He named the imposing temple-like residence with extensive gardens " Mount Washington" after the revolutionary battle the occurred there. Thomson lived there with his wife, Anne Strean Thomson and his ten children until his death of a stroke at Mount Washington on June 10, 1850. He was initially interred to vault #122 at the New York City Marble Cemetery. His body was later moved to Rhinebeck, New York.