TITANIC AND ​THE ISMAY FAMILY

 

It was around this time when Thomas's father Joseph had started his own business as a shipbuilder and had a share in four ships trading with Maryport. He was the town's first shipbroker. When Thomas was twelve years old he was sent to Croft House (High School), Brampton, Cumberland, which was considered one of the best boarding schools in the North of England. During his free time here Thomas would carve model ships, rig them according to class, and sail them on a nearby tarn.

 

Thomas left school at the age of sixteen. Thomas was small with a dusky complexion, he had dark penetrating eyes. He was kind, friendly and had a good sense of humour; he had the gift of being at ease with everyone. While Thomas was at school his father died and his great uncle, Isaac Middleton took a great interest in Thomas, it was Isaac who arranged for Thomas to be apprenticed with the shipbrokers Imrie, Tomlison in Liverpool, who he knew well and both he and Thomas's father had done business. At the age of sixteen he started his apprenticeship as arranged at 13 Rumfold Street, Liverpool. Upon completion of his apprenticeship Thomas decided to gain some experience sailing the seas.

 

When he returned to Liverpool he started business of his own account. Thomas later joined Philip Nelson, ship owner, also from Maryport. The business became known as Nelson, Ismay and Company. The partnership did not last long. Philip was a retired sea Captain who was set in his ways and believed that the way ahead was with tried and trusted wooden ships; Thomas, on the other hand believed that the way forward was with new ships made of iron.

 

In 1867, when Thomas was thirty years old he acquired the name and flag of the White Star Line and wished the line to have the largest and most luxurious ships at sea.

 

On the 7th April1859 Thomas married Margaret, daughter of Luke Bruce, they had 6 daughters, including two sets of twins, and 3 sons, one of whom was Joseph Bruce, who was to succeed his father as chairman of the White Star Line. Thomas died on the Twenty third of November 1899 at his home 'Dawpool' on the banks of the river Dee in Cheshire. He was laid to rest in a quiet churchyard at Thurstaston, Wirral near his beloved home.

 

During his life Thomas made many charitable contributions. He never forgot the town where he was born and had loved so much. It was said that if any man turned up at the offices of the White Star Line who was from Thoma's hometown of Maryport, he would be guaranteed a job. In December 1876, although Thomas no longer owned property in Maryport he set up a fund for the old people of the town, £5 for coal and £20 for blankets, to be distributed annually at Christmas; the year after, he added a further £25 which was to be a shillings worth of groceries per person per week. This fund is still in existence today.

 

Thomas tried to support businesses and friends from or near to his home town when possible; businesses such as:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T.H. Ismay gave many bequests to charity, these included:

 

The Incumberment of St. Mary's Church

The West Kirby Convalescent Home for children

The Bootle Borough Hospital

The Birkenhead Children's Infirmary

The Railway Benevolent Institution

The Training Ship Indefatigable

The Parish Church of Thurstaston

The Liverpool Bluecoat Hospital

The Liverpool Seamen's Orphan Institution

The Liverpool Seamen's Pension Fund, and

£10,000 to Mrs. Ismay to a fund called 'The Margaret Ismay Fund'

which will supplement the benefits conferred by the

Liverpool Seamen's Pension Fund.

 

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