Tom Thomson

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Thomas John Thomson (August 5, 1877 - July 8, 1917), also known as Tom Thomson, was an influential Canadian artist of the early 20th century. He directly influenced a group of Canadian painters that would come to be known as the Group of Seven, and though he died before they formally formed, he is sometimes incorrectly credited as being a member of the group itself. Thomson died under mysterious circumstances, which added to his mystique.Tom Thomson was born near Claremont, Ontario and grew up in Leith, near Owen Sound. In 1899, he entered a machine shop apprenticeship at an iron foundry owned by William Kennedy, a close friend of his father. He was fired from his apprenticeship by a foreman who complained of Thomson''s habitual tardiness. In 1899 he volunteered to fight in the Second Boer War.