60 x 95 mm. A carte de visite full length studio portrait of Reverend J. Thompson seated at a writing desk. No listing has been found for a James Thompson in almanacs for the relevant period and the man seen here is in all probability the Reverand William Thompson listed as 'local super-intendent of the London Missionary Society, and minister of the Independent Church' in The Cape of Good Hope Commercial Directory and general Business Guide for 1868. Thompson (1811-1889) was ordined in 1836 and spent his missionary career in India (1836-1849). On his return from India his missionary connection with the L.M.S. ceased and he accepted the pastorate at the Union Chapel, Cape Town, arriving in South Africa in 1850. In South Africa he acted as agent for the L.M.S. mission stations and was later General Treasurer of the Society for these stations. He died in Cape Town.The photograph was probably taken during Thompson's visit to England in 1865. The backmark reads: 'James Valentine, by special appointment Photographer to her Majesty the Queen, 'Honi soit qui mal y pense', Dundee. Negatives kept, duplicates may be had'.