Memorial to Edward Thomason in St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham

Sir Edward Thomason (c. 1769 – 29 May 1849)[1] was a manufacturer and inventor in Birmingham knighted by King William IV.

Life

Plate commemorating Thomason, and depicting his "patent carriage steps", in James Bisset's A poetic survey round Birmingham (1800)

He was born around 1769 in Birmingham. His father Edward Thomason (1740 – 1793) was a manufacturer of buckles, and his mother was Mary Garlick.

He married Phillis Brown Glover, daughter of Samuel Glover of Abercarn, Monmouth, on 26 August 1799. His son, Henry Botfield Thomason, died on 12 July 1843 aged 41. Edward Thomason's grandson, and Henry Botfield's son, Henry Richard Yeoville Yardley Thomason became an architect in Birmingham, designing many of the city's landmark buildings.

At age 16 he was articled to Matthew Boulton in the Soho Foundry. He began manufacturing in his father's factory around 1793, establishing a trade in gilt and plated buttons. The business expanded into manufacture of medals, tokens and coins, and later plated gold and silver works. In 1835 he sold the business to Whitegrave and Collis.

In 1823 he cast a 2½ ton bronze statue of George IV (the first bronze statue cast in Birmingham), but he failed to sell it, and it was eventually sold for scrap.[2]

In 1839 he improved the gun lock by making the cock detachable by the thumb and finger as well as making improvements to prevent misfires.

In 1844 he retired from business and moved to Ludlow, then Bath, then Warwick.[3]

In 1845 he published his memoirs[4] in which he illustrated his manufactured products and inventions.

He died in his house in Jury Street, Warwick in 1849, and a memorial was erected to him in St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham.

Appointments

In 1818 he was elected to the office of High Bailiff of Birmingham. He was also Vice-consul for the town of Birmingham for the governments of Russia, France, Prussia, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Sweden and Norway.

Awards

  • 1823 Gold Medal of Merit from The King of Prussia
  • 1830 Cross and decoration of the order of Francis I of Merit from the King of Naples
  • 1831 Order of the Lion for civil merit from the King of the Netherlands
  • 1831 Order of the Red Eagle of Prussia, fourth class
  • 1832 Knighthood from King William IV
  • 1833 Cross of the order of Isabel the Catholic
  • 1833 Order of the Lion and Sun from Persia
  • 1833 Constantian order of St George from Ferdinand II, King of Naples
  • 1834 Order of St Maurice and Lazarus from the King of Sardinia
  • 1835 Cross of the Order of Christ from the King of Portugal
  • 1838 Royal Guelphic order from the King of Hanover

References

  1. ↑ The Gentleman's Magazine. Volume 186. P.337
  2. ↑ Thomas T. Harman (1885), Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham: A history and guide, arranged alphabetically: containing thousands of dates and references to matters of interest connected with the past and present history of the town – its public buildings, chapels, churches and clubs – its Friendly Societies and Benevolent Associations, philanthropic and philosophical institutions – its colleges and schools, parks, gardens, theatres, and places of amusement – its men of worth and noteworthy men, manufactures and trades, population, rates, statistics of progress, &c., &c., Cornish Brothers, p. 292, Wikidata Q66438509
  3. ↑ The Worthies of Warwickshire who Lived Between 1500 and 1800, Frederick Leigh Colvile, H. T. Cooke & Son
  4. ↑ Sir Edward Thomason's Memoirs during half a Century. Published 1845

"Thomason, Edward" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

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