William Luson Thomas
Encyclopedia
William Luson Thomas was an English
wood engraver and the founder of various British newspapers.
and also as an assistant to the well-known engraver William James Linton
.
Thomas was a friend of Charles Dickens
http://www.library.yale.edu/~mpowell/victorianper.html#graph and believed in social reform. At one time he worked for the Illustrated London News
, and became convinced that pictures could have a powerful influence on public opinion, especially on political issues.
In December 1869 he founded a new weekly illustrated newspaper, called The Graphic
, and recruited a number of brilliant artists to help illustrate it. In 1889, Thomas and his company H.R. Baines and Co. began publishing the first daily illustrated newspaper, called The Daily Graphic. He hoped that illustrated news would inspire people to campaign against various evils in Victorian
society, including poverty and crime. His newspapers achieved a significant readership throughout the British Empire
and in the United States.
When Thomas died in 1900, his company H.R. Baines and Co. was run by his son, Carmichael Thomas. The Graphic ceased to be published in 1932.
His seventh son George Holt Thomas
was a director and general manager of The Graphic and independently founded The Bystander and Empire Illustrated magazines. He also became a pioneer industrialist in the aviation industry but died in 1929.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
wood engraver and the founder of various British newspapers.
Biography
He worked as an engraver in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and also as an assistant to the well-known engraver William James Linton
William James Linton
William James Linton was an English-born American wood engraver, landscape painter, political reformer and author of memoirs, novels, poetry and non-fiction.- Birth and early years :...
.
Thomas was a friend of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
http://www.library.yale.edu/~mpowell/victorianper.html#graph and believed in social reform. At one time he worked for the Illustrated London News
Illustrated London News
The Illustrated London News was the world's first illustrated weekly newspaper; the first issue appeared on Saturday 14 May 1842. It was published weekly until 1971 and then increasingly less frequently until publication ceased in 2003.-History:...
, and became convinced that pictures could have a powerful influence on public opinion, especially on political issues.
In December 1869 he founded a new weekly illustrated newspaper, called The Graphic
The Graphic
The Graphic was a British weekly illustrated newspaper, first published on 4 December 1869 by William Luson Thomas's company Illustrated Newspapers Limited....
, and recruited a number of brilliant artists to help illustrate it. In 1889, Thomas and his company H.R. Baines and Co. began publishing the first daily illustrated newspaper, called The Daily Graphic. He hoped that illustrated news would inspire people to campaign against various evils in Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
society, including poverty and crime. His newspapers achieved a significant readership throughout the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
and in the United States.
When Thomas died in 1900, his company H.R. Baines and Co. was run by his son, Carmichael Thomas. The Graphic ceased to be published in 1932.
His seventh son George Holt Thomas
George Holt Thomas
George Holt Thomas aviation industry pioneer and newspaper proprietor. Holt Thomas founded, in 1911, the business which became Aircraft Manufacturing Company Limited or Airco....
was a director and general manager of The Graphic and independently founded The Bystander and Empire Illustrated magazines. He also became a pioneer industrialist in the aviation industry but died in 1929.
External links
- Biography of William L Thomas
- http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Jgraphic.htmInformation about Thomas and his founding of The GraphicThe GraphicThe Graphic was a British weekly illustrated newspaper, first published on 4 December 1869 by William Luson Thomas's company Illustrated Newspapers Limited....
] - Some information on Thomas and illustrations from The Graphic