Born in Vienna to Jewish parents Leibisch Thorn and Teme Thorn (née Finkelstein), Julius[1] (later known as Jules) Thorn was conscripted into the Austrian Army during World War I.[2] After the War he studied at the Handelshochschule (Business School) in Vienna.[2]
In 1923 Thorn moved to the United Kingdom as representative for Olso, an Austrian manufacturer of gas mantles.[2][3] In 1926 Olso went bankrupt and Thorn chose to set up business on his own trading as the Electric Lamp Service Company.[2] In 1936 he diversified into manufacturing and expanded the company into one of the largest electrical businesses in the country, Thorn Electrical Industries.[2] He was knighted in 1964.[4]
In 1970 Thorn retired from full-time involvement in the business to devote himself to his racehorses and his collection of Impressionist paintings. He was a successful racehorse owner and won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket with High Top in 1972.[5] Only in 1976 did he retire as Chairman of the business.[2] Sir Jules was a noted philanthropist supporting many medical, educational, artistic and humanitarian charities and endeavours. A large number of legal and medical scholarships as well as museums carry his name.
Thorn died in Westminster on 12 December 1980,[2] not long after seeing his company's successful takeover of its long-time rival EMI. His work and vision is continued through the Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust, chaired until recently by his daughter Ann Rylands.[6]
Familyedit
In 1928 he married Dorothy Olive Tanner and together they went on to have one son and one daughter.[2] He married a second time, to Jean Norfolk, in 1971.[2]
Referencesedit
^"Vienna Birth Records 1899". FamilySearch. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
^ abcdefghiJules Thorn at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
^"His Master's Voice" (in German), in Kultur&Technik magazine, April 1998, accessed 2014-04-18
jules, thorn, february, 1899, december, 1980, founder, thorn, electrical, industries, united, kingdom, largest, electrical, businesses, career, editborn, vienna, jewish, parents, leibisch, thorn, teme, thorn, née, finkelstein, julius, later, known, jules, thor. Sir Jules Thorn 7 February 1899 12 December 1980 was the founder of Thorn Electrical Industries one of the United Kingdom s largest electrical businesses Career editBorn in Vienna to Jewish parents Leibisch Thorn and Teme Thorn nee Finkelstein Julius 1 later known as Jules Thorn was conscripted into the Austrian Army during World War I 2 After the War he studied at the Handelshochschule Business School in Vienna 2 In 1923 Thorn moved to the United Kingdom as representative for Olso an Austrian manufacturer of gas mantles 2 3 In 1926 Olso went bankrupt and Thorn chose to set up business on his own trading as the Electric Lamp Service Company 2 In 1936 he diversified into manufacturing and expanded the company into one of the largest electrical businesses in the country Thorn Electrical Industries 2 He was knighted in 1964 4 In 1970 Thorn retired from full time involvement in the business to devote himself to his racehorses and his collection of Impressionist paintings He was a successful racehorse owner and won the 2 000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket with High Top in 1972 5 Only in 1976 did he retire as Chairman of the business 2 Sir Jules was a noted philanthropist supporting many medical educational artistic and humanitarian charities and endeavours A large number of legal and medical scholarships as well as museums carry his name Thorn died in Westminster on 12 December 1980 2 not long after seeing his company s successful takeover of its long time rival EMI His work and vision is continued through the Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust chaired until recently by his daughter Ann Rylands 6 Family editIn 1928 he married Dorothy Olive Tanner and together they went on to have one son and one daughter 2 He married a second time to Jean Norfolk in 1971 2 References edit Vienna Birth Records 1899 FamilySearch Retrieved 25 January 2017 a b c d e f g h i Jules Thorn at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography His Master s Voice in German in Kultur amp Technik magazine April 1998 accessed 2014 04 18 No 43250 The London Gazette 18 February 1964 p 1563 Racing Better Jules Thorn Charitable Trust nbsp This article about a British businessperson born in the 1890s is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jules Thorn amp oldid 1180114911, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
