Background
Thomsett was born in Dover, Kent in 1825 and joined the Royal Navy in 1840 as an officer in the navigation branch, by 1854 he was the commander of the HMS Princess Charlotte stationed in.
Thomsett was born in Dover, Kent in 1825 and joined the Royal Navy in 1840 as an officer in the navigation branch, by 1854 he was the commander of the HMS Princess Charlotte stationed in.
He retired from the Royal Navy in 1870. He was the Habour Master of from 1861 to 1888. During his service, he recommended Cape Doctorate"Aguilar, Green Island and Cape Collinson to be the sites for lighthouses, as lighthouses in these places would cover the eastern and western entrances to Construction work started immediately on Cape Doctorate"Aguilar Lighthouse.
He was also the emigration officer in about 1874 to 1875.
Foreign his services in he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. Thomsett married Susannah Agnes Cunningham in 1855 in Portsea district of Portsmouth.
In 1873, he was appointed to the commission to enquiry and investigate the blockade of harbour by the Chinese Maritime Customs along with Phineas Ryrie, member of the Legislative Council and Malcolm Struan Tonnochy, Acting Registrar General by Governor Arthur Kennedy. In 1887 he was made a member of the Legislative Council.