Thomson, Basil, 1861-1939

The diversions of a prime minister
Book 1894

Summary: Sir Basil Home Thomson, was a British colonial administrator and prison governor, who was head of Metropolitan Police CID during World War I. This gave him a key role in arresting wartime spies, and he was closely involved in the prosecution of Mata Hari, Sir Roger Casement and many Irish and Indian nationalists. His equating of Jews with Bolshevism led to accusations of anti-semitism. Thomson was also a successful novelist. Wikipedia
Gender or Sex: Male [1][2][3][4]
Born: 1861-04-21 [2][4]
Birth Place: Oxford [2][4]
Died: 1939-03-26 [2][4]
Death Place: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames [4]
Country: Great Britain [2]
Language: English [3]
Occupation: colonial administrator [4]; police officer [4]; writer [4]; barrister [4]
Educated at: New College [4]; Eton College [4]
Country of Education: United Kingdom [4]
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: Biography (requires subscription) [4]
Yale LUX: Entity [4]

Sources: 1. VIAF; 2. Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (Germany); 3. Bibliothèque nationale de France; 4. Wikidata

Last updated Dec 20, 2025