Kenneth Thomson, 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Right Honourable
The Lord Thomson of Fleet |
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|---|---|
 |
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| Born | September 1, 1923 |
| Died | June 12, 2006 (aged 82) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Alma mater | St. John's College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Chairman, Woodbridge Co. Ltd. |
| Net worth |  $19.6 billion USD (2006) |
| Spouse(s) |
Nora Marilyn Lavis
(m. 1956) |
| Children | 3, including David and Peter |
| Parent(s) | Roy Thomson Edna Thomson |
Kenneth Roy Thomson, 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet (born September 1, 1923 – died June 12, 2006) was a very successful Canadian and British businessman. He was also a famous art collector. When he passed away, he was known as the richest person in Canada. He was also the ninth richest person in the world! His wealth was about US $19.6 billion.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kenneth Thomson was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on September 1, 1923. His father, Roy Thomson, started a big company called the Thomson Corporation.
Kenneth went to Upper Canada College for his early schooling. Later, he studied economics and law at St. John's College, Cambridge in England. During World War II, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force. After the war, he finished his studies and joined his family's business.
Leading a Business Empire
When his father died in 1976, Kenneth became the 2nd Lord Thomson of Fleet. However, he preferred to be known as "Ken Thomson" in Canada. He never used his noble title there. He also did not take his seat in the British House of Lords.
He once said, "In London I'm Lord Thomson, in Toronto I'm Ken." This showed he liked to keep his Canadian identity. He took over his father's media company, which owned many newspapers and TV stations.
Under Kenneth's leadership, the Thomson company changed a lot. They sold off their oil businesses. They also sold famous newspapers like The Times in Britain. The company then focused on providing financial information and academic publishing. Today, it is one of the world's biggest companies for information services.
In 2005, Forbes magazine said the Thomson family was the richest in Canada. Kenneth Thomson himself was the fifteenth richest person globally. By the time he died, his wealth had grown even more.
A Passion for Art
Kenneth Thomson was also a very important art collector. He collected art for over 50 years. He gave a lot of money and art to the Art Gallery of Ontario.
In 2002, he bought a Canadian painting by Paul Kane for a record price. That same year, he bought a famous painting by Peter Paul Rubens called The Massacre of the Innocents. He paid a huge amount for it: £49.5 million, which was about CAD $117 million.
Family Life
In 1956, Kenneth Thomson married Nora Marilyn Lavis, who was a model. They had three children together: David (born in 1957), Lynne (born in 1959), and Peter (born in 1965).
Later Years and Legacy
In 2002, Kenneth Thomson stepped down as chairman of the Thomson Corporation. His older son, David, took over this role. Kenneth remained chairman of The Woodbridge Company, which was the family's main holding company.
After retiring from active business, he made an amazing gift to the Art Gallery of Ontario. He donated nearly 2,000 artworks. These artworks were worth over US $300 million. This collection included masterpieces by Canadian artists. It also had European art from the Middle Ages to the mid-1800s. His famous Rubens painting, Massacre of the Innocents, was part of this gift.
Kenneth Thomson lived in Toronto in his final years. He passed away in 2006 at his office from a heart attack.
See also
In Spanish: Kenneth Thomson para niños
