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Thomson, John Renshaw

merchant, United States senator, was born Sept. 25, 1800, in Philadelphia, Pa. In 1820 he established himself as a merchant in Canton, China. He was appointed consul of the United States at that port in 1823, and remained there until 1825. After the year 1830 he engaged in the management of several railways and of the New Jersey canal. He was United States senator from New Jersey from 1853 to 1857; and was re-elected for the term ending in 1863. He died Sept. 13, 1862, in Trenton, N. J.