Thomson was born in
Glasgow; soon after he was born his family realised that Glasgow was full of John Thomsons and started calling him Ian. He was educated at the
High School of Glasgow and the
University of Glasgow. In 1939 he joined the
Black Watch but was able to finish his studies at Glagow University, graduating with a degree in economics in 1940. He had already applied to join the
Colonial Service, did so in 1941 and was sent to
Fiji, then a British colony, as
aide-de-camp to the Governor,
Sir Harry Luke. He was commissioned in the Fiji Military Forces and saw action in the
Solomon Islands campaign. He was appointed a military "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the South West Pacific" in 1945. After the war he served the Administration of Fiji, becoming a
District Officer and eventually District Commissioner 1963–66. In 1966 he was appointed to the
Executive Council while serving as Acting Chief Secretary. In 1967 he reluctantly left Fiji to become Governor of the
British Virgin Islands (BVI). He was appointed in the
1968 Birthday Honours. In 1971 he returned to Fiji after being invited by the Prime Minister of the newly independent
Dominion of Fiji,
Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, to chair the board of the
Fiji Sugar Corporation. He was also chairman of Fiji's airline,
Air Pacific. He was knighted KBE in the
1985 New Year Honours on the advice of the Fijian government. ==Family==