Plate commemorating Thomason, and depicting his "patent carriage steps", in James Bisset's A poetic survey round Birmingham (1800)
He was born around 1769 in Birmingham. His father Edward Thomason (1740 – 1793) was a manufacturer of buckles, and his mother was Mary Garlick.
He married Phillis Brown Glover, daughter of Samuel Glover of Abercarn, Monmouth, on 26 August 1799. His son, Henry Botfield Thomason, died on 12 July 1843 aged 41. Edward Thomason's grandson, and Henry Botfield's son, Henry Richard Yeoville Yardley Thomason became an architect in Birmingham, designing many of the city's landmark buildings.
At age 16 he was articled to Matthew Boulton in the Soho Foundry. He began manufacturing in his father's factory around 1793, establishing a trade in gilt and plated buttons. The business expanded into the manufacture of medals, tokens and coins, and later plated gold and silver works. In 1835 he sold the business to Whitegrave and Collis.
In 1823, he cast a 2½ ton bronze statue of King George IV (the first bronze statue cast in Birmingham), but he failed to sell it, and it was eventually sold for scrap.[2]
In 1839, he improved the gun lock by making the cock detachable by the thumb and finger as well as making improvements to prevent misfires.
In 1844, he retired from business and moved to Ludlow, then Bath, then Warwick.[3]
In 1845, he published his memoirs[4] in which he illustrated his manufactured products and inventions.
In 1818 he was elected to the office of High Bailiff of Birmingham. He was also Vice-consul for the town of Birmingham for the governments of Russia, France, Prussia, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Sweden and Norway.
^Thomas T. Harman (1885), Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham: A history and guide, arranged alphabetically: containing thousands of dates and references to matters of interest connected with the past and present history of the town – its public buildings, chapels, churches and clubs – its Friendly Societies and Benevolent Associations, philanthropic and philosophical institutions – its colleges and schools, parks, gardens, theatres, and places of amusement – its men of worth and noteworthy men, manufactures and trades, population, rates, statistics of progress, &c., &c., Cornish Brothers, p. 292, Wikidata Q66438509
^The Worthies of Warwickshire who Lived Between 1500 and 1800, Frederick Leigh Colvile, H. T. Cooke & Son
^Sir Edward Thomason's Memoirs during half a Century. Published 1845
edward, thomason, 1769, 1849, manufacturer, inventor, birmingham, knighted, king, william, memorial, philip, cathedral, birmingham, contents, life, appointments, awards, referenceslife, edit, nbsp, plate, commemorating, thomason, depicting, patent, carriage, s. Sir Edward Thomason c 1769 29 May 1849 1 was a manufacturer and inventor in Birmingham knighted by King William IV Memorial to Edward Thomason in St Philip s Cathedral Birmingham Contents 1 Life 2 Appointments 3 Awards 4 ReferencesLife edit nbsp Plate commemorating Thomason and depicting his patent carriage steps in James Bisset s A poetic survey round Birmingham 1800 He was born around 1769 in Birmingham His father Edward Thomason 1740 1793 was a manufacturer of buckles and his mother was Mary Garlick He married Phillis Brown Glover daughter of Samuel Glover of Abercarn Monmouth on 26 August 1799 His son Henry Botfield Thomason died on 12 July 1843 aged 41 Edward Thomason s grandson and Henry Botfield s son Henry Richard Yeoville Yardley Thomason became an architect in Birmingham designing many of the city s landmark buildings At age 16 he was articled to Matthew Boulton in the Soho Foundry He began manufacturing in his father s factory around 1793 establishing a trade in gilt and plated buttons The business expanded into the manufacture of medals tokens and coins and later plated gold and silver works In 1835 he sold the business to Whitegrave and Collis In 1823 he cast a 2 ton bronze statue of King George IV the first bronze statue cast in Birmingham but he failed to sell it and it was eventually sold for scrap 2 In 1839 he improved the gun lock by making the cock detachable by the thumb and finger as well as making improvements to prevent misfires In 1844 he retired from business and moved to Ludlow then Bath then Warwick 3 In 1845 he published his memoirs 4 in which he illustrated his manufactured products and inventions He died in his house in Jury Street Warwick in 1849 and a memorial was erected to him in St Philip s Cathedral Birmingham Appointments editIn 1818 he was elected to the office of High Bailiff of Birmingham He was also Vice consul for the town of Birmingham for the governments of Russia France Prussia Austria Spain Portugal Brazil Sweden and Norway Awards edit1823 Gold Medal of Merit from the King of Prussia 1830 Cross and decoration of the order of Francis I of Merit from the King of Naples 1831 Order of the Netherlands Lion for civil merit from the King of the Netherlands 1831 Order of the Red Eagle of Prussia fourth class 1832 Knighthood from King William IV 1833 Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic 1833 Order of the Lion and Sun from Persia 1833 Constantian order of St George from Ferdinand II King of Naples 1834 Order of St Maurice and Lazarus from the King of Sardinia 1835 Cross of the Order of Christ from the King of Portugal 1838 Royal Guelphic Order from the King of HanoverReferences edit The Gentleman s Magazine Volume 186 P 337 Thomas T Harman 1885 Showell s Dictionary of Birmingham A history and guide arranged alphabetically containing thousands of dates and references to matters of interest connected with the past and present history of the town its public buildings chapels churches and clubs its Friendly Societies and Benevolent Associations philanthropic and philosophical institutions its colleges and schools parks gardens theatres and places of amusement its men of worth and noteworthy men manufactures and trades population rates statistics of progress amp c amp c Cornish Brothers p 292 Wikidata Q66438509 The Worthies of Warwickshire who Lived Between 1500 and 1800 Frederick Leigh Colvile H T Cooke amp Son Sir Edward Thomason s Memoirs during half a Century Published 1845 Thomason Edward Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward Thomason amp oldid 1217382952, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
