William Aitken Thomson was born in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland on 21 September 1871. He was articled to his father, James Thomson (1835-1905) in Glasgow from 1888 to 1892 and remained as his assistant until 1899. In 1899 they formed a partnership as Baird & Thomson. By 1914 Thomson was sole partner in the firm.
Thomson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1906. His address was given as 88, Bath Street, Glasgow in 1888 and 1928; 19, Queen's Gate, Dowanhill, Glasgow in 1914; 150, Holland Street, Glasgow in 1929 and 1940; and 2 Queen's Gate/125, Dowanhill Street, Glasgow He died in Glasgow on 26 November 1947.
Works: Buildings for the McAlpin Nursing Home, Glasgow; workshops, school, and residential blocks for Royal Glasgow Asylum for the Blind; buildings for Old Man's Friend Society, Glasgow; and buildings throughout Scotland for the Clydesdale Bank, Ltd.; buildings In Glasgow for British Linen Bank; general architectural practice and property valuation, &c
For a more complete list of architectural projects by William Aitken Thomson see the Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1660-1980
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001