 His brother, Alexander Greek Thomson (1817–1875) was an eminent Glaswegian architect and architectural theorist who was a pioneer in sustainable building.George and Alexander were partners in an architectural practice in Glasgow early in their careers.In 1870, George Thomson was sent by the Baptist Church to West Africa as a missionary in Limbe, Cameroon (then known as ""Victoria""), where he combined his religious activities with a passion for botany.