Thomson, Reginald Heber, 1856-1949

Reginald Heber Thomson (1856-1949) served multiple terms as Seattle City Engineer, from 1883 to 1886, 1892 to 1911 and from 1930 to 1931. He was born in Hanover, Indiana in 1856, graduating from Hanover College in 1877 with a doctorate in philosophy. After graduating, Thomson moved to Oakland, California and briefly taught mathematics at the Healdsburg Institute (later known as Pacific Union College). Thomson arrived in Seattle on September 25, 1881. During his tenure as Seattle City Engineer, he constructed much of Seattle's municipal infrastructure, including the city sewer system, the paving and regrading of downtown Seattle streets and the construction of the Great Northern Tunnel. He was also instrumental in creating the Cedar River watershed, City Light, the Port of Seattle, and the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. The Seattle Board of Public Works removed Thomson from office briefly in February, 1894, but Mayor James T. Ronald reversed the decision, instead removing two members of the Board and reinstating Thomson. From 1916 to 1922, Thomson was a member of the Seattle City Council, yet he continued as an engineering consultant during this time, working on such projects as the Lake Washington Floating Bridge and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Immediately prior to his death, Thomson wrote his autobiography, That Man Thomson, which was published posthumously. Thomson died in Seattle in 1949.

Reginald Heber Thomson (1856-1949), a Seattle civil engineer, is credited with establishing much of the municipal infrastructure of the fledgling city of Seattle. Thomson was Seattle city engineer from 1892 through 1911 and again in 1930 and 1931. He chaired the Seattle Public Works Board 1896-1911, established the Port of Seattle in 1911, served as superintendent of Stathcona Park, Vancouver Island, from 1912 to 1915, and was a member of the Seattle City Council from 1916 to 1922. Thomson consulted on major water and hydroelectric projects in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alaska. Among the many projects he is known for are several major regrades of Seattle's business district and waterfront, the establishment of Seattle's first hydroelectic plants, and establishment of the Cedar River water supply and the West Point sewage treatment plant.