Description
Charles Thomson
Charles was born in Ireland to Scottish Irish parents. When he was only about 10 years of age, his mother passed away. Shortly after, his father took Charles and his three brothers, and they set sail for America.
It was a difficult journey. When they came within sight of the Capes of Delaware, his father died from the effects of seasickness and was buried at sea. Three penniless orphans came ashore and were left to their own resources.
It is said that young Charles was approached by a woman who asked him what he wanted to be in his future to which Charles replied, “A scholar. I want to make my way with my mind and my pen.”
Well, the woman was so impressed. She took the boy and arranged for his education with Dr. Francis Allen, one of the finest educators of the time.
Soon, Charles proved himself a worthy student. He found himself charmed with the Greek language and soon mastered it. Because of that, it was suggested to him that he take that and study Theology.
Interestingly, Charles asked where these scholars learned their theology and they answered from the Bible.
To them, Charles replied:
“If they whom you so highly recommend as models drew their religious instruction from the scriptures, I shall apply directly to the same source instead of taking knowledge at second hand as I have said before. Reading the scriptures is drinking at the headwaters, reading commentaries and such is drinking downstream below the cows.”
That is what Charles did. He began to read the Bible, though he had no intention of becoming a minister. He studied the scriptures for the rest of his life, developing an intimate knowledge and love of the word of God. For his career, he chose public service and he served his nation with great distinction. He became highly respected for his honor and his integrity.
A common statement of his day was “as true as if Charles Thomson’s name was to it.”
When he retired from public service, his boss, President George Washington, wrote the following to him:
“Posterity will find your name so honorably connected with the unification of such a multitude of astonishing facts; your services have been as important as your patriotism was distinguished.”
In his retirement, Charles Thomson began a project that would take the next 19 years of his life. In 1808, he gave to the world the first American Translation of the Bible into English and he did it alone.
Remarkably, it was also the first translation of the Greek Septuagint in English. Of his work, Thomson wrote:
“I have sought for truth with the utmost ingenuity and endeavored to give a just and true representation of the sense and meaning of the sacred scriptures and in doing this, I have further endeavored to convey into the translation, as far as I could the spirit and manner of the authors and thereby give it the quality of an original.”
Well, it is altogether fitting that Charles Thomson be remembered. Though most Americans will remember him not as a Bible translator but as one of the two original signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was the first man ever to publicly read the Declaration aloud and the only man to serve as the Secretary of the Continental Congress of the United States for 15 years. In his momentous existence, he was the lone patriot who knew and wrote the earliest history of the founding of America and knew it better than any other man. When it was done, he threw it away because it is said, he would not let that history stand, to bring dishonor or discredit to any of those great men and women who participated in the founding of this country.
There is one other thing for which you might want to remember Charles Thomson in his public service. He is the man who designed the Great Seal of the United States.
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