C. J. S. (Charles John Samuel) Thompson

Born in Liverpool in 1862, Charles John Samuel Thompson studied chemistry and pharmacy at the University of Liverpool and went on to build a career that joined science, history, and storytelling. He was a British physician and writer, and his wide interests gave his work an unusually rich mix of scholarship and curiosity.

Thompson worked closely with Henry Wellcome and later became curator of the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum in 1909. That role suited him perfectly: he was deeply interested in the history of medicine, drugs, folklore, and the odd byways of old medical practice, and he wrote about them in a way that made specialized subjects approachable for general readers.

His books include The Mystery and Romance of Alchemy and Pharmacy, The Mystery and Art of the Apothecary, Poisons and Poisoners, and The Mysteries and Secrets of Magic. Even when dealing with dark or eccentric subjects, his writing is lively and accessible, which helps explain why his work still appeals to readers interested in medical history, curiosity literature, and the stranger side of the past.