Constituency : Tynemouth and North Shields 1868-85
Thomas took over from George Trevelyan at Tynemouth.
Thomas was a ropemaker's son and a self-made shipbuilder. He was the founder of Smith's Docks. He was immensely wealthy. His wife was an independently wealthy art patron and a social climber. He stood for Dover in 1865.
Thomas was peripherally involved in the Charles Dilke scandal. One of his daughters married Dilke's brother Ashton while another Virginia married Donald Crawford who brought the case. There were hints during the proceedings that Thomas's wife had also slept with Dilke. The family left England to live in Algiers after the scandal.
Thomas was one of the chief opponents of Plimsoll's attempts to improve safety at sea.
Thomas built a church and school at North Gosforth but never had it consecrated for fear he would lose control of it to the Diocese of Durham.
Thomas retired in 1885.
He died in 1903 aged 72.
No comments:
Post a Comment