Thomas de la Rue (24 March 1793 – 7 June 1866) was a printer from Guernsey who founded De La Rue plc, a printing company which is now the world's largest commercial security printer and papermaker.
Born on Le Bourg, Forest, Guernsey to Rachel Allez and Eleazar de la Rue. Thomas was the seventh of their nine children.[1][2] Thomas de la Rue was apprenticed to a master-printer, Joseph Antoine Chevalier in Saint Peter Port in 1803.[3][1]
He went into business with Tom Greenslade and together they launched the newspaper Le Publiciste. Having fallen out with Greenslade, Thomas de la Rue launched his own publication, Le Miroir politique, first published on 6 February 1813.[3][4]
In 1816 he left Guernsey, for London, where he initially established a business making straw hats.[3] Then in 1830 together with Samuel Cornish and William Rock he founded a business of "cardmakers, hot pressers and enamellers".[3] in 1831, de la Rue was granted the right to print playing cards, making it the first company to do so; it printed its first pack the following year. Soon afterwards, Thomas hired Owen Jones, a well-known designer and architect.[5] By 1837 his wife, his two sons William Frederick and Warren De la Rue and his eldest daughter were involved in the business.[3] In 1855 Thomas was made a Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion of Honour.[3] In 1858, he retired from De La Rue, handing over the management of the business to his sons.
He married Jane Warren (17 June 1789 – 22 September 1858) on 21 March 1816.[3] He had six daughters and two sons: Mary, Elizabeth, Georgiana, Louisa, Jane, Warren and William.
There is a pub on The Pollet, Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, named after him.
In 1991 the States of Guernsey issued a £5 banknote with Thomas De La Rue on the reverse. A commemorative one-pound note was issued in July 2013, to mark 200 years since the first commercial venture of Thomas De La Rue. The note is in circulation alongside the standard one-pound note.[7]
Referencesedit
^ abWintle, Adam. "De La Rue". The World of Playing Cards. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
^"'Forest boy' Thomas de la Rue honoured". Guernsey Press. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
^ abcdefghThomas de la Rue at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
^"Le Publiciste: Thomas de la Rue and Mr Greenslade fall out, 1813". Priaulx Library. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
^"Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
^"Commemorative £1 note". States of Guernsey. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
Further readingedit
Houseman, Lorna, The House That Thomas Built: the Story of De La Rue, Chatto & Windus (1968) ISBN0-7011-1343-X
Marr, L. James, Guernsey People, Phillimore (1984) ISBN0-85033-529-9
April 12, 2024
thomas, march, 1793, june, 1866, printer, from, guernsey, founded, printing, company, which, world, largest, commercial, security, printer, papermaker, born24, march, 1793le, bourg, forest, guernseydied7, june, 1866, 1866, aged, kensington, middlesex, england,. Thomas de la Rue 24 March 1793 7 June 1866 was a printer from Guernsey who founded De La Rue plc a printing company which is now the world s largest commercial security printer and papermaker Thomas de la RueBorn24 March 1793Le Bourg Forest GuernseyDied7 June 1866 1866 06 08 aged 73 Kensington Middlesex England United KingdomOccupationPrinterSpouseJane Warren m 1816 died 1858 wbr Children8 including Warren Contents 1 Biography 2 Family 3 Memorials 4 References 5 Further readingBiography editBorn on Le Bourg Forest Guernsey to Rachel Allez and Eleazar de la Rue Thomas was the seventh of their nine children 1 2 Thomas de la Rue was apprenticed to a master printer Joseph Antoine Chevalier in Saint Peter Port in 1803 3 1 He went into business with Tom Greenslade and together they launched the newspaper Le Publiciste Having fallen out with Greenslade Thomas de la Rue launched his own publication Le Miroir politique first published on 6 February 1813 3 4 In 1816 he left Guernsey for London where he initially established a business making straw hats 3 Then in 1830 together with Samuel Cornish and William Rock he founded a business of cardmakers hot pressers and enamellers 3 in 1831 de la Rue was granted the right to print playing cards making it the first company to do so it printed its first pack the following year Soon afterwards Thomas hired Owen Jones a well known designer and architect 5 By 1837 his wife his two sons William Frederick and Warren De la Rue and his eldest daughter were involved in the business 3 In 1855 Thomas was made a Chevalier Knight of the Legion of Honour 3 In 1858 he retired from De La Rue handing over the management of the business to his sons Thomas de la Rue died in Kensington in 1866 3 6 Family editHe married Jane Warren 17 June 1789 22 September 1858 on 21 March 1816 3 He had six daughters and two sons Mary Elizabeth Georgiana Louisa Jane Warren and William Memorials editThe Guernsey Post Office has issued two sets of postage stamps commemorating his life and achievements in 1971 and 1993 There is a pub on The Pollet Saint Peter Port Guernsey named after him In 1991 the States of Guernsey issued a 5 banknote with Thomas De La Rue on the reverse A commemorative one pound note was issued in July 2013 to mark 200 years since the first commercial venture of Thomas De La Rue The note is in circulation alongside the standard one pound note 7 References edit a b Wintle Adam De La Rue The World of Playing Cards Retrieved 11 October 2017 Forest boy Thomas de la Rue honoured Guernsey Press 20 December 2016 Retrieved 11 October 2017 a b c d e f g h Thomas de la Rue at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Le Publiciste Thomas de la Rue and Mr Greenslade fall out 1813 Priaulx Library Retrieved 11 October 2017 Thomas de la Rue at CardsHistory com Index entry FreeBMD ONS Retrieved 17 April 2021 Commemorative 1 note States of Guernsey Retrieved 5 July 2013 Further reading editHouseman Lorna The House That Thomas Built the Story of De La Rue Chatto amp Windus 1968 ISBN 0 7011 1343 X Marr L James Guernsey People Phillimore 1984 ISBN 0 85033 529 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas de la Rue amp oldid 1159002007, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
