Thomas Henry Ismay

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Thomas Henry Ismay
Dawpool, Thurstaston, Cheshire, England
NationalityEnglish
Other namesBaccy Ismay
OccupationPresident of White Star Line
Known forHeading and running the White Star Line
SpouseMargaret Bruce
ChildrenJoseph Bruce Ismay, Charles Bower Ismay (third son 1874-1924)[1]
Parents
  • Joseph Ismay (father)
  • Mary Sealby (mother)
Vanity Fair
in 1894.

Thomas Henry Ismay (7 January 1837 – 23 November 1899) was a one time owner the White Star Line. His son Joseph Bruce Ismay was managing director of the White Star Line and survived the maiden voyage of its ocean liner RMS Titanic in 1912.

Early years

Thomas Ismay was born on 7 January 1837, in a small cottage in the town of

Brampton, Cumberland
. On 31 July 1855 his twin sister Charlotte died, aged 18.

South American voyage

To gain some experience with ships, he arranged a trip to Chile on the S.V. Charles Jackson. She departed

Copiapo
to meet up again with the Charles Jackson. The weather was horrible at the start, the ship lost some of her sails and split the topmast, and Ismay was badly hurt after a window smashed in and cut his toe. He arrived home in autumn 1856.

Shipping career

At the age of 16, Ismay left school and started an apprentice with shipbrokers Imrie and Tomlinson of Liverpool. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, he wanted to gain some experience on the high seas. Once he got back to England he started a business. He partnered with Philip Nelson who was also a man from Maryport and a friend of his father. However, the partnership did not last long; Nelson was a retired sea captain and believed in old, trustworthy wooden ships while Ismay believed the future was in iron ships. In 1867 Ismay acquired the flag of the White Star Line.

Ismay had always held an interest in the Asiatic Steam Navigation Company and wanted to see how it was run, so he and

Gustav Wolff, founder of Harland & Wolff, decided to take a trip to India on board an ASNC steamer. This was partly to see how their rival was managed and partly a family holiday. On 26 October 1887, they left Dawpool and travelled by train across Europe, seeing the sights of France, Switzerland and Italy along the way. Once they got to Italy they joined the SS Nizam, bound for Alexandria. In Egypt the pair visited the Pyramids and cruised on the Nile
.

SS Atlantic Memorial donated by Thomas Henry Ismay's family at the site of the mass grave, Terence Bay, Nova Scotia

Around 1870, Ismay drafted a new set of rules and regulations for his brand new trend-setting steamers, RMS Oceanic (1870), RMS Atlantic and the RMS Baltic (1871). In 1873, SS Atlantic struck rocks and sank off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, killing at least 535 people. It was the greatest disaster for the White Star Line before the loss of the Titanic in 1912.

From 1863 till 1899, Ismay was president of White Star Line and had several ships under his authority. Most of these ships, until 1870, were chartered; even after 1870 most of White Star Line's vessels were chartered from more notable/wealthy shipping lines, so that the company could not be held completely responsible if someone died on board.

White Star Line vessels

Ulcoats, Cecelia, Golden Sunset, Gladiator, Duke of Edinburgh, Duleep Singh, Bucton Castle, Globe, Nereus, Borrowdale, Weathersfield, British Prince, Dallam Towers, Remington, Hecuba, Pride Of The Thames, Houghton Towers, Warwickshire, Victoria Tower, Hawarden Castle, Vancouver, Castlehead, Vandieman, Comandre, Seatoller, Casma, Compadre, Bayard, British Admiral, Montrose, Ismay, Estrella, Pembroke Castle, Hausquina, Rajah, SS British Navy, Cairnsmore, Santon, Kirkwood, Delhi, Merwanjee Framjee, Ravenscrag, Cape Clear, Grace Gibson, Hannibal, Cardigan Castle, Santiago, Jason, RMS Oceanic (1870) (Oceanic was White Star Line's first true vessel because she was actually ordered by Thomas Ismay)

Personal life

On 7 April 1859, Ismay married Margaret, the daughter of Luke Bruce. In 1867, he acquired the flag and branding of the White Star Line. The family lived at Beach Lawn, Crosby.

During these years he undertook several grand projects including, in July 1882, the building of a private residence in

Dawpool and, when Ismay's widow died in 1907, both of his sons declined to take up residence. When the Ismays tried selling the house, the agent said the land would be worth more if the home was blown up[citation needed] and it was eventually sold to a Mr. Rutter who loaned it to the government as a hospital during World War I. In 1926 it was sold to Sir Henry Roberts
who had it demolished a year later.

The lobby of Albion House (White Star Line headquarters) in Liverpool

Death

Shortly after the launching of the Oceanic on 14 January 1899, Ismay began to complain of pains in his chest. He had been very active throughout his life and was seldom sick, so his doctor took his pains very seriously. His condition slowly deteriorated and construction on Oceanic's sister ships was delayed. In March of that year, Ismay's health began to improve, and he and Margaret went to Windermere where he became sick again. His wife summoned a doctor and a dose of morphine was given to Ismay. After six days he was feeling better and he returned to Dawpool in Thurstaston. Within six weeks he had more violent pain. The doctor diagnosed it as a gallstone. By 26 April, Ismay felt good enough to work, but in August he collapsed and was confined to bed. On 31 August an operation was performed to alleviate his condition. The operation was unsuccessful and a second became necessary on 4 September. The next morning he insisted that his daughters go on a voyage on the Oceanic whilst he talked to his wife. He asked his wife to arrange for the local church to pray for him. On 14 September Ismay suffered a heart attack. His condition continued to worsen, and, on 23 November 1899, he died at the age of 62. His wife never fully recovered, and she died seven years later.

He and his wife are commemorated with a large chest tomb at

J. L. Pearson.[2]

Grave of Thomas Ismay in Thurstaston

References

  1. ^ https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/community/threads/news-from-1900-bower-ismay-marries-constance-schieffelin.25748/ The New York Times, 13 January 1900 and https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp97006/charles-bower-ismay Charles Bower Ismay (1874-1924)
  2. ISBN 9780300170436
    .
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