Charles Thomas (1794-1868) was a mining agent and share dealer in

Camborne Camborne ( kw, Kammbronn) is a town in Cornwall, England. The population at the 2011 Census was 20,845. The northern edge of the parish includes a section of the South West Coast Path, Hell's Mouth and Deadman's Cove. Camborne was formerl ...

Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...

, in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. He was an advocate of deep mining. Charles Thomas was employed at

Dolcoath Mine Dolcoath mine ( kw, Bal Dorkoth) was a copper and tin mine in Camborne, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Its name derives from the Cornish for 'Old Ground', and it was also affectionately known as ''The Queen of Cornish Mines''. The site is n ...

from the age of 12 and nine years later was made an underground agent. By 1832 the mine's previously rich deposits of copper ore were substantially worked-out and the mine was in danger of closing. Thomas believed that rich deposits of

tin ore Cassiterite is a tin oxide mineral, SnO2. It is generally opaque, but it is translucent in thin crystals. Its luster and multiple crystal faces produce a desirable gem. Cassiterite was the chief tin ore throughout ancient history and remains ...

would be found below the lowest levels of the mine, and tried to persuade the shareholders of this without success. However, in 1844, on the death of the manager, William Petherick, Thomas was appointed manager or "Captain" of the mine. Despite continued opposition from the shareholders, he persuaded a group of miners to work the lowest levels of the mine. These miners, known as "tributers", were paid solely on the basis of the ore they recovered, so the activity was undertaken at no threat to the shareholders. Good deposits of ore were quickly discovered and this helped Thomas raise the capital needed to deepen the mine further. In 1853 the first dividend was paid to the shareholders and Dolcoath went on to become the most productive tin mine in Cornwall.

Publications

* ''Remarks on the geology of Cornwall and Devon: In connexion with the deposits of metallic ores, and on the bearings of the productive lodes, given in two lectures with Lithographic Illustration Together with Additional Remarks on the Same Subject ''; Redruth, James Tregaskis (1859) * ''Mining fields of the West: being a practical exposition of the principal mines and mining districts in Cornwall and Devon''; Truro, D. Bradford Barton, 1967. (first published 1867) * ''Investors' handbook : containing full and reliable information with regard to every description of investment'' ; London : Charles Thomas, 1877 * ''Tables Suited to a New Method of Ascertaining the Value of Tin Stuff ''; Marazion : S.Bennett, 1836 * ''Tables For Ascertaining the Value of Tin Stuff ''; Redruth : James Tregaskis, 1859

References

* Cornwall County Library Catalogue * British Library catalogue. 1794 births 1868 deaths People from Camborne Mining in Cornwall {{Cornwall-stub