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The Ismay Family White Star Line
Thomas Henry Ismay The man and his background
I have traced this mans history back to Bromfield, in the county of Cumberland. On 11th February 1687, John Ismay married Mary Watson. From this line came Thomas Henry Ismay, the father of Joseph Bruce.
Thomas was born, on the 7th January 1837 in a three roomed house in Whillans Yard, Wood Street, Maryprt, Cumberland. When Thomas was 6 years old the family moved to a lager house named 'The Ropery' Grasslot, Maryport, close to his grandfather Joseph Middleton's shipbuilding yard, the place where his father Joseph was employed. Thomas spent much of his free time by the harbor; he was obsessed with the sea and with ships. He leaned much about the sea and he also learned about the habit of chewing tobacco, his nickname was 'Baccy Ismay'
By this time 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 towns first shipbroker. When Thomas was twelve years old he was sent to High School, Brampton, Cumberland, which was considered one of the best boarding schools in the North of England.
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 humor; he had the gift of being at ease with everyone. While Thomas was at school his father ha died. His great uncle, Isaac Middleton took a great interest in him, and 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 though. 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.
In 1869 Ismay introduced iron ships instead of wooden vessels formerly employed in the Australian trade. In the same year Ismay deemed the moment right for the introduction into the New York trade of a high class passenger service, induced some friends to help him in the formation of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company, Ismay was then joined in management by William Imrie, of the late firm, Imrie Tomlinson and Co. The firm now became Ismay, Imrie and Co. Ismay devoted himself to the development of steamships, while Imrie chose the direction of sailing ships.
The Ocean Navigation Company was registered in 1869. The first ship of the new service, aptly named 'Oceanic' was built by Harland and Wollf, Belfast who went on to build many vessels for the White Star Line.
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 Thomas'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.
These funds were still in existence in the early part of the 1960s' and may well be today.
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.
Thomas had many other business interests, some of these are listed below.
Thomas had interests in the rail network with financial backing for many adventurous projects. He owned several insurance companies and had interests in Ismay Industries, part of which, produced light bulbs mainly for the domestic market. A high percentage of the bulbs produced were sold through outlets of F. W. Woolworth. Those which were not, were sold as the 'Ismay Light bulb'
I understand that Thomas Ismay also had financial interests in the General Electric Company
© Clifford Ismay 2004
Contents | White Star Line | Maiden voyage 1 | Maiden voyage 2 | Maiden voyage 3 | J Bruce Ismay | Allegations of Cowardice | Letters | Sailing Ships