Background
Thomson, William Mcclure was born on December 31, 1806 in Spring Dale, Ohio, United States. Son of Review John Thompson.
Thomson, William Mcclure was born on December 31, 1806 in Spring Dale, Ohio, United States. Son of Review John Thompson.
Graduate Miami University, Oxford, O., 1828. Attended Princeton Theological Seminary, 1824-1831.
Ordained by Presbytery of Cincinnati, 1831. Sailed for Syria, 1832. In Beirut, Lebanon, 1833-1834, Jerusalem, 1834, imprisoned as spy.
Opened boys’ boarding school, Beirut, 1835.
Moved to station he had helped establish at Ubeih, Lebanon, 1843. Helped Maronite Christians escape to Beirut in Druses-Christian War, 1846.
Went to Syria, managed post at Hasbeiyeh, 1850-1857. Went to Beirut as missionary, 1859.
Adviser to Lord Dufferin (representative of allied powers in reorganization government of Lebanon), 1860.
Returned to American, 1876. Author: The Land and the Book, 3 volumes, 1880-1885 (became best seller).
Married Eliza Nelson Hanna, June 6, 1832. Married second, Mistress.