William Luson Thomas
William Luson Thomas (1830–1900), newspaper proprietor
1830 Born in Bath
Worked as a wood-engraver in Paris with his brother George Housman Thomas; he was also an assistant to the British wood-engraver William James Linton.
1855 Married Annie Carmichael, daughter of marine artist John Wilson Carmichael
1861 William Luson Thomas 30, .. (indecipherable).. engraver employed 13 assistants, lived in Lambeth with Annie Thomas 26, William Carmichael Thomas 4, Maude Scott Thomas 3, Frederick Hayes Thomas 1[1]
Thomas was a friend of Charles Dickens and believed in social reform. At one time he worked for the Illustrated London News, and became convinced that pictures could have a powerful influence on public opinion, especially on political issues.
Worked as an engraver for the Illustrated London News
1869 He co-founded a new weekly illustrated newspaper, called The Graphic with his brother Lewis Samuel Thomas (d. 1872). Important to the project was the recruitment of a number of brilliant artists to help illustrate it including Godefroy Durand who moved from Paris to London to work for the newspaper full time.
Involved in the introduction of photo method of reproduction.
1889 Thomas and his company H. R. Baines and Co began publishing the first daily illustrated newspaper, called The Daily Graphic. He hoped that illustrated news would inspire people to campaign against various evils in Victorian society. His newspapers achieved a significant readership throughout the British Empire and in the United States.
1891 William L Thomas 60, director of the Graphic paper, lived in Lambeth with Annie Thomas 55, Harvey Thomas 29, Henry C Scott 32 Son-in-law, Maud S Scott 33 Daughter, Gilbert W Thomas 27, Lewis B Thomas 25, Neville K Thomas 23, George H Thomas 21, Louise A C Thomas 24 Niece[2]
1900 Thomas died; his company H.R. Baines & Co. was then run by his son, Carmichael Thomas.
Thomas' seventh son George Holt Thomas was a director and general manager of The Graphic and independently founded The Bystander and Empire Illustrated magazines. He also became a pioneer industrialist in the aviation industry.
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] William Luson Thoms
- Biography of National Biography