Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar facts for kids
Thomas Robert Dewar (born January 6, 1864 – died April 11, 1930) was a Scottish businessman. He was a very successful whisky maker. With his brother, John Dewar, he helped make their family's company, Dewar's, famous all over the world. Thomas was especially good at marketing. He traveled widely to find new customers and promote their whisky. He used exciting images of Scotland in his advertisements.
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Early Life and Family Business
Thomas Dewar was born in 1864 in Perth, Scotland. His father, John Dewar Sr., started the John Dewar & Sons company. So, Thomas grew up around the whisky business. He studied in Perth and Edinburgh. He soon realized that farming was not what he wanted to do.
Building a Global Brand
After his father passed away, Thomas worked with his brother, John A. Dewar Jr. They wanted to make their family's business even bigger. Thomas was very charming and good at talking to people. This helped him expand the company around the world.
While his brother stayed in Scotland to manage the business, Thomas traveled. He visited 26 countries in just two years! His travels helped make Dewar's one of the best-known Scotch whiskies. Thomas kept a diary of his adventures. These notes were later published in a book called "A Ramble Round the Globe" in 1894.
Later, in 1923, Thomas bought the Glen Ord Distillery. Two years after that, the Dewar brothers joined their company with the Distillers Company. Both brothers became part of the board of directors. Thomas was known as "Whisky Tom." He was also the person who stayed at the Savoy Hotel in London for the longest time.
Public Service and Politics
Thomas Dewar was involved in public life. He served as a justice of the peace for Kent. This meant he helped keep law and order. He was also a Lieutenant of the City of London. In 1897, he became the Sheriff of London.
He then entered politics. He ran as a candidate for the Conservative Party (UK) in 1897 but did not win. However, in October 1900, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP). He represented the area of Tower Hamlets, St George. He held this position until 1906.
Awards and Titles
Thomas Dewar received many honors. In 1902, King Edward VII made him a Knight Bachelor. This meant he could use "Sir" before his name. He was officially knighted at Buckingham Palace.
Later, in 1917, he became a baronet. This was another special title. Finally, in 1919, he was given the title of Baron Dewar. This made him a member of the Peerage of the United Kingdom. However, Thomas never married. So, when he passed away in April 1930 at age 66, his titles ended. He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.
Love for Sports
Thomas Dewar had a great interest in sports. He supported many different activities.
Horse Racing
Thomas Dewar loved Thoroughbred horse racing. He owned and bred racehorses. Two of his most famous horses were Challenger and Cameronian.
Challenger was born in 1927. Thomas raced him when he was two years old. After Thomas's death, Challenger was sold to owners in America. He became a top breeding horse in North America in 1939. Cameronian was born in 1928. This horse won two very important races in 1931: the Epsom Derby and the 2,000 Guineas Stakes.
Sports Trophies
Thomas Dewar also created many special awards for different sports. These were called Challenge Shields or Cups. He created the Sheriff of London Charity Shield and the Dewar Cup for soccer in the United States.
For cycling, he gave the Dewar Challenge Shield in 1901. This was a beautiful silver plaque for a five-mile cycling championship. It had goddesses and Scottish thistles on it. He also presented the Lord Dewar Challenge Cup to the Serpentine Swimming Club in London in 1925.
For shooting, Dewar gave a trophy for international rifle competitions. This event, called the Dewar Match, is still held today. Shooters compete in different places and send in their scores. The trophy is a large silver cup, over two feet tall, given to the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs.
Legacy and Continued Support
Thomas Dewar's support for sports continues. His granddaughter, Alice Dewar, donated a Dewar Challenge Shield for rowing. Three rowing clubs in Hammersmith, West London, compete for it every year. These clubs are Furnivall Sculling Club, Sons of the Thames, and Auriol Kensington Rowing Club.
See also
The Dewarists
