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Sir Edward Thomason (c. 1769 – 29 May 1849) was a manufacturer and inventor in
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
Sir Edward Thomason (c. 1769 – 29 May 1849) was a manufacturer and inventor in Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...
knighted by King William IV
William IV (William Henry; 21 August 1765 – 20 June 1837) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. The third son of George III, William succeeded hi ...
.
Life
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
Matthew Boulton (; 3 September 172817 August 1809) was an English manufacturer and business partner of Scottish engineer James Watt. In the final quarter of the 18th century, the partnership installed hundreds of Boulton & Watt steam engin ...
in the Soho Foundry
Soho Foundry is a factory created in 1775 by Matthew Boulton and James Watt and their sons Matthew Robinson Boulton and James Watt Jr. at Smethwick, West Midlands, England (), for the manufacture of steam engines. Now owned by Avery Weigh-Tr ...
. 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
George IV (George Augustus Frederick; 12 August 1762 – 26 June 1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from the death of his father, King George III, on 29 January 1820, until his own death ten y ...
(the first bronze statue cast in Birmingham), but he failed to sell it, and it was eventually sold for scrap.
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.
In 1845 he published his memoirsSir Edward Thomason's Memoirs during half a Century. Published 1845 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 HanoverReferences
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomason, Edward 1760s births 1849 deaths People from Birmingham, West Midlands English silversmiths English inventors Knights Bachelor Knights of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Recipients of the Order of Isabella the Catholic Recipients of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Recipients of the Order of Christ (Portugal)