Thomas Jessop (31 January 1804, in

Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...

– 30 November 1887) was a steelmaker who became

Mayor of Sheffield The Lord Mayor of Sheffield is a ceremonial post held by a member of Sheffield City Council. They are elected annually by the council. The post originated in 1843, with the appointment of William Jeffcock as the first Mayor of Sheffield. Ea ...

(1863-1864) and

Master Cutler The Master Cutler is the head of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire established in 1624. Their role is to act as an ambassador of industry in Sheffield, England. The Master Cutler is elected by the freemen of the company on the first Monday of ...

(1863). As Mayor, he had to deal with the

Great Sheffield Flood The Great Sheffield Flood was a flood that devastated parts of Sheffield, England, on 11 March 1864, when the Dale Dyke Dam broke as its reservoir was being filled for the first time. At least 240 people died and more than 600 houses were da ...

of 1864.

Family

Thomas Jessop was born on Blast Lane, Sheffield, the son of William Jessop (1772–1835) and Rebecca Taylor (1770–1859), who had 3 other sons and 4 daughters.Jane's Genealogy Pages
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Thomas Jessop (1804-1887) He married Frances Yates Hope in 1848 and they had 5 daughters and one son, William (1856–1905).
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Life

William Jessop was a steelmaker and the father and sons jointly built up the business to be one of the largest steel makers in Sheffield.''Leeds Mercury'' December 3, 1887, Obituary After the death of William and the other brothers Thomas was chairman from 1871 until the time of his death. He also founded the

Jessop Hospital __NOTOC__ The Jessop Hospital for Women was a hospital in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. At the time of its closure in 2001, it was managed by the Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust. History Early history Following a large ...

for women at a cost of £30,000. He died at his home, Endcliffe Grange, Sheffield on 30 November 1887,''Sheffield & Rotherham Independent'' December 03, 1887, p 3 , "Deaths" and was interred at

Ecclesall Ecclesall Ward—which includes the neighbourhoods of Banner Cross, Bents Green, Carterknowle, Ecclesall, Greystones, Millhouses, and Ringinglow—is one of the 28 electoral wards in City of Sheffield, England. It is located in the southwester ...

Church on 3 December, following a great funeral procession led by 700 workers from the steelworks, and with carriages including the Mayor and Master Cutler.''Sheffield & Rotherham Independent'' December 05, 1887, p 2: "Funeral of Mr T. Jessop, J.P."

Artistic Recognition

There are three known portraits of Jessop, each by

Hugh Ford Crighton Hugh Ford Crighton (1824–1886) was a successful Scottish portrait artist in the 19th century. Largely known for commissioned portraits, the works (which frequently appear at auction) are largely now "anonymous" in their subject matter as the sit ...

: two in his role as mayor, one hanging at Sheffield Town Hall, one in Sheffield Museum; a third in his role as hospital founder hangs at the Sheffield Teaching Hospital.Art UK
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References

Steel City Founders: Thomas Jessop

Thomas Jessop {{DEFAULTSORT:Jessop, Thomas 1804 births 1887 deaths Master Cutlers Councillors in Sheffield 19th-century English businesspeople