Robert Thompson (1851-1908)
Robert Thompson (1851-1908) of Joseph L. Thompson and Sons
1908 Obituary [1]
ROBERT THOMPSON died on January 1, 1908, at the age of fifty-seven. He was the eldest son of the late Joseph L. Thompson, and was educated at Gainford School. He was the principal partner and chairman of directors of the shipbuilding firm of Joseph L. Thompson & Sons, Limited, of Sunderland. He had very varied experience, having been actively engaged in the shipbuilding industry since the year 1865. His firm have, on a great many occasions, held the record of having launched in one year the largest amount of tonnage on the Wear.
Besides directing the affairs of the shipbuilding and repairing business, Mr. Thompson was an active partner in the Sunderland Forge and Engineering Company, Limited; he was one of the founders of the Wearmouth Laundry Company, Limited; chairman of directors of the Skinningrove Iron Company, Limited; and was connected with various other business companies.
He was a county Justice of the Peace, a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, a Governor and Member of Council of the Durham College of Science, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and was one of the founders of the North-East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders, of which, during the two sessions 1891-92 and 1892-93, he occupied the presidential chair. He was also a member of the Council of the Institution of Naval Architects, and for a number of years was one of the North-East Coast representatives on the Committee of Lloyd's Registry of British and Foreign Shipping, and acted as a member of the Technical Sub-Committee. He was also a member of the River Wear Commission and of the Borough Council.
He was elected a member of the Iron and Steel Institute in 1886.