Lewis William Thomas
Lewis William Thomas (1845-1918) of A. L. Thomas and Sons later Dover Engineering Works
1845 Born the son of Anthony Lewis Thomas
1861 Living at 17 St. Catherine Place, Dover: Anthony L. Thomas (age 55 born Buckland, Dover), Engineer Smith. With his wife Sarah A. Thomas (age 56 born St Mary's Dover) and their two sons James L. Thomas (age 20 born Charlton, Dover), Engineer, and Lewis W. Thomas (age 16 born Charlton, Dover), Engineer. Also a boarder Alfred Boulden (age 16 born Faversham). Fitting Engineer (Ap).[1]
1911 Living at 42 Maison Dien Road, Dover: Lewis William Thomas (age 66 born Charlton, Kent), Ironfounder, Retired. With his wife Agnes Thomas (age 57 born Woodchurch, Kent) and their son Harold Beken Thomas (age 23 born Charlton, Dover), Civil Engineer - Railways. One servant.[2]
1918 Obituary [3]
LEWIS WILLIAM THOMAS was born at Dover on 29th January 1845.
He was educated in Dover and then served an apprenticeship with his father, founder of the firm of A. L. Thomas and Sons (now the Dover Engineering Works).
In 1865 he was employed on locomotive work at the South Eastern Railway Works at Ashford, and two years later went to America to obtain experience in various classes of engineering at Pittsburg and St. Louis.
In 1869 he returned home and joined his father and brother in business, and on the death of his father and the retirement of his brother, he became sole proprietor in 1889.
On the conversion of the firm into a company in 1902, he was appointed chairman and managing director, which positions he held until his retirement in 1909.
During his career he carried out a variety of mechanical engineering works including ship repairs, a steel landing stage for Dover Harbour, and steel roofs for various large buildings in East Kent.
He held several public appointments and for a time was on the Kent County Council.
His death took place suddenly at Dover on 4th July 1918, at the age of seventy-three.
He was elected a Member of this Institution in 1911.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ 1861 Census
- ↑ 1911 Census
- ↑ 1918 Institution of Mechanical Engineers: Obituaries