Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Thomson of Fleet
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Roy Herbert Thomson
5 June 1894 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | 4 August 1976 (aged 82) London, England |
| Resting place | Toronto |
| Spouse |
Edna Annis Irvine
(m. 1916; died 1951) |
| Children | 3, including Kenneth |
| Known for | Established radio station CFCH (1931), acquired Timmins Daily Press (1934), successful newspaper and other media entrepreneur. |
Roy Herbert Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet (born June 5, 1894 – died August 4, 1976) was a very successful newspaper owner. He was born in Canada but later became a British citizen. He became one of the most important media leaders in London, England.
He first became well-known by selling radios in Ontario, Canada. To give his customers more things to listen to, he started his own radio station. Later, he moved into owning newspapers. He became as rich and important in Canada as other big newspaper owners in the United Kingdom.
Roy Thomson wanted to receive a special title called a "peerage" from the British monarch. He was told he could only get this if he moved to the UK. He then started buying British newspapers, like The Scotsman. He also started a TV company called Scottish Television, which made a lot of money. With these profits, he bought more famous newspapers like The Times and The Sunday Times.
Early Life
Roy Herbert Thomson was born on June 5, 1894, in Toronto, Canada. His father, Herbert Thomson, was a barber. His mother, Alice Maud, was from England. The family lived in Toronto.
Roy's family had come from Scotland many years before. His ancestors were farmers from a place called Westerkirk. One of his ancestors, Archibald Thomson, moved from Scotland to Canada in 1773.
Building a Media Empire
During World War I, Roy Thomson went to business college. He could not join the army because of his poor eyesight. After the war, he tried farming in Manitoba but it did not work out.
Thomson returned to Toronto and worked several jobs. One job was selling radio sets. He found it hard to sell radios in Northern Ontario because there were not many radio stations for people to listen to. So, he decided to start his own radio station. He managed to get a radio frequency and a transmitter for only $201. His radio station, CFCH, officially began broadcasting in North Bay, Ontario, on March 3, 1931.
In 1934, Thomson bought his first newspaper, the Timmins Daily Press, for a down payment of $200. He then started buying more radio stations and newspapers across Ontario. By the early 1950s, he owned 19 newspapers. He also owned other businesses, like hair salons and a company that made ice cream cones.
Roy Thomson wanted to become a "peer," which is a special title given by the British monarch. So, he moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1952, he bought The Scotsman newspaper. In 1957, he started a commercial TV station for Central Scotland called Scottish Television. This TV station became very profitable. Thomson famously said it was like having a "licence to print money" because it earned so much.
In 1959, Thomson bought a large group of newspapers in Britain, including The Sunday Times. Over the years, his media company grew to include over 200 newspapers in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. His company, the Thomson Organization, became a huge international business. It had interests in publishing, printing, television, and travel. In 1966, Thomson bought The Times newspaper.
In the 1970s, Thomson also worked with J. Paul Getty to find oil in the North Sea. Roy Thomson was a humble man who did not show off his wealth. He often rode the London Underground (subway) to his office.
Personal Life
On July 29, 1916, Roy Thomson married Edna Annis Irvine in Toronto, Canada. They had three children: Kenneth Roy Thomson, Irma Jacqueline Thomson, and Phyllis Audrey Thomson. Sadly, Edna died in 1951.
Roy Thomson died in London, England, in 1976. A special plaque was placed in St Paul's Cathedral to remember him.
After Roy Thomson passed away, his son Kenneth took over the family business, Thomson Corporation. Kenneth also inherited his father's title, becoming the 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet.
Legacy
Roy Thomson Hall, a major concert hall in Toronto, is named after him. His family donated $5.4 million to help build it. The Thomson Student Centre at Memorial University of Newfoundland is also named in his honour.
Family Tree
Roy Thomson's family still uses the British title of Baron Thomson of Fleet. Here is a simple family tree:
| Roy Thomson 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet |
Edna Annis Irvine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nora Marilyn Lavis | Kenneth Thomson 2nd Baron Thomson of Fleet |
Irma Jacqueline Thomson | Phyllis Audrey Thomson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| David Thomson 3rd Baron Thomson of Fleet |
Taylor Lynne Thomson | Peter Thomson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Honours
In 1964, Roy Thomson was given the title of Baron Thomson of Fleet. This meant he became a "peer" in Britain. To receive this title, he had to become a British citizen. This meant he lost his Canadian citizenship at the time.
In 1970, he was also made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE), which is another high honour. In 1972, he received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
