Francis Vernon Thomson

Sir Francis Vernon Thomson (1881-1953), chairman of the King Line

1881 February 10th. Born in Levenshulme, Lancashire, the son of John Thomson (1844-1912) and his wife Margaret Barbara Laidlaw Linklater (1842-1924)

1911 Living at 12 Brownlow Road, New Southgate, London: John Thomson (age 66 born Aberdeenshire), Retired Commercial Traveller - Carpets. With his wife Margaret Linklater Thomson (age 68 born Lerwick, Shetland) and their son Francis Vernon Thomson (age 30 born Manchester), Chartering Clerk for Ship Owners. John and Margaret married 41 years with six children of whom five are still living.

1953 February 8th. Died

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1953 Obituary

WE greatly regret to record the death of Sir Francis Vernon Thomson, which occurred in London on Sunday last, February 8th, two days before his seventy-second birthday.

With his death British shipping has lost a leader who was associated with ships and shipping for most of his life and whose aid was sought by the Government over a long period of years. His considerable experience of shipping matters was of great value during both world wars, when he was active in helping to control British shipping.

From 1918 to 1921 Sir Vernon acted as honorary assistant director of the Ship Management Branch of the Ministry of Shipping, and during the whole of the second world war was Principal Shipping Adviser and Controller of Commercial Shipping to the Ministry of War Transport. His commercial interests included the chairmanship of the King Line, which is owned by the Union Castle Line, of which Sir Vernon was chairman and managing director, and he was also chairman of Bullard King and Co., Ltd., and of London and Thames Haven Oil Wharves, Ltd.

As head of the Union Castle Line he was responsible for the large liner building programme carried out since the war to make good war losses and to bring the company's fleet up to date. He carried out important documentary work for the Chamber of Shipping over a period of twelve years, and was president of the Chamber in 1936-37.

In addition, he acted as chairman of the Tramp Shipping Subsidy Committee, 1935-37, and during the same years presided over the Tramp Shipping Administrative Committee.

Since 1927 he had been a member of the committee of Lloyd's Register of Shipping, and in 1931-33 was chairman of the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange.

Despite his many commercial commitments, Sir Vernon found time for other interests connected with shipping. He was a Member of Council of King George's Fund for Sailors, and honorary life governor of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, honorary treasurer of the Royal Alfred Merchant Seamen's Society and he also served on the management committee of H.M.S. "Worcester." For his services to shipping he was made a K.B.E. in 1921 a 9.B.E. in 1946, and was created first baronet in 1938.

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