Thomas “Tom” D’Urfey (1970 - 1723)

In his time a famous poet, playwright, songwriter and wit, an d unofficial court jester to King Charles II. Always known as ‘Tom’ – including on his gravestone. Now mainly remembered for the music which Purcell wrote for his plays and odes. (bio by: David Conway)

Thomas “Tom” Horn, Jr (1861 - 1903)

Horn left school and ran away from an abusive father at an early age. By age 17, he’d been a railroad laborer, wagon and stage coach driver and then a US Army Scout who played a part in the surrender of Geronimo in 1886 by negotiating the terms of surrender with the Apache Chief. In […]

Thomas A. Hardie (1970 - 1970)

Actor. He appeared in the original stage production of “The Dove of Peace” (1912).  (bio by: Ginny M)

Thomas Addison (1793 - 1860)

Thomas Addison was born in April 1793, but his exact birthdate is not known. He was born in Longbenton, near Newcastle upon Tyne, the son of Sarah and Joseph Addison, a grocer and flour dealer in Long Benton. He attended the local Thomas rutter school and then went to the Royal Free Grammar School in […]

Thomas Alexander Russell (1877 - 1940)

Automobile manufacturer. Inventor of one of the few truly Canadian cars. In 1905, as general manager of the Canadian Cycle and Motor Company (CCM), Russell introduced a model A, with a flat, two-cylinder gasoline engine. It had such advanced features as shaft drive, a sliding-gear transmission, and a column-mounted shift lever. Russell marketed the vehicle […]

Thomas Andrews (1873 - 1912)

Thomas Andrews was born at Ardara House, Comber, County Down, in Northern Ireland, to The Rt. Hon. Thomas Andrews, a member of the Privy Council of Ireland, and Eliza Pirrie. His siblings included John Miller Andrews, the future Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, and Sir James Andrews, the future Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland. […]

Thomas Andrews Jr. (1873 - 1912)

Thomas Andrews was born at Ardara House, Comber, County Down, in Ireland, to The Rt. Hon. Thomas Andrews, a member of the Privy Council of Ireland, and Eliza Pirrie. His siblings included John Miller Andrews, the future Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, and Sir James Andrews, the future Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland. Thomas […]

Thomas Andrews, Jr (1873 - 1970)

Noted Titanic Designer, Builder and Victim. Born in Northern Ireland the son of Right Hon. Thomas Andrews and Eliza (Pirrie), nephew of Lord Pirrie, principal owner of Harland and Wolff, the builders of Titanic. Entering at age 16 as premium apprentice, he gradually worked his way up to became managing director of H&W in charge […]

Thomas Arnold (1970 - 1969)

Theatrical Producer. He produced the first production of “Aladdin” in 1937.  Known for his involvement in Opera and films, and even American rodeo.  He was reported to have been involved personally in 400 pantomimes throughout his life and was producing fifteen such productions at the time of his death.

Thomas Arthur O’Donnell (1870 - 1945)

Industrialist, Philantropist. He became known as one of the “big four” in the California oil industry, along with Edward L. Doheny, Charles A. Canfield and Max H. Whittier. Starting out as a newsboy in his native McKean, Pennsylvania, O’Donnell went to Colorado at age 12 and for seven years worked as a grocery store clerk […]

Thomas Augustine “T.A.” Daly (1871 - 1948)

Journalist. He wrote articles for various Philadelphia newspapers from 1891 to 1929, when he wrote exclusively for the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. He often wrote in humorous Italian dialects. He wrote two books “Little  Polly’s Poems” and “McAroni Ballads”.

Thomas B. Costain (1885 - 1965)

Author. Born Thomas Bertram Costain, the son of John Herbert and Mary Schultz Costain in Brantford, Ontario. He left school at the age of seventeen, taking a position with the ‘Brantford Courier.’ Between 1908 and 1910 he served as the editor of the ‘Guelph Daily Mercury,’ followed by a stint as the editor of ‘Maclean’s […]

Thomas Bailey Aldrich (1836 - 1907)

Author, Poet, Editor. Aldrich was an only child and his father often moved the whole family as he followed business opportunities. Shortly after his birth, the family moved from New Hampshire to New York for four years, then to New Orleans for about three years. He would later fictionalize these experiences of his childhood in […]

Thomas Banks (1735 - 1805)

Sculptor. Thomas was the son of a surveyor who was the land steward to the Duke of Beaufort, he was born in London. Thomas was taught drawing by his father, and in 1750 was apprenticed to a woodcarver. In 1772 he obtained a travelling studentship given by the Royal Academy and proceeded to Rome. He […]

Thomas Beck (1909 - 1995)

Actor. His first professional work began as a stage performer in a stock company and later as a Broadway head liner. In the 1930s, his work interested film executives and he went to Hollywood where he appeared in 28 films in his career. His most memorable roles were in the films “Charlie Chan in Paris” […]

Thomas Becket (1118 - 1170)

Becket was born about 1118, or in 1120 according to later tradition. He was born in Cheapside, London, on 21 December, which was the feast day of St Thomas the Apostle. He was the son of Gilbert Beket and Gilbert’s wife Matilda. Gilbert’s father was from Thierville in the lordship of Brionne in Normandy, and […]

Thomas Bell (1792 - 1880)

Bell, like his mother Susan, took a keen interest in natural history which his mother also encouraged in his younger cousin Philip Henry Gosse. Bell left Poole in 1813 for his training as a dental surgeon in London. He combined two careers, becoming Professor of Zoology at King’s College London in 1836 (on the strength […]

Thomas Berger (1924 - 2014)

Author. He will be best remembered for his penning of the novel “Little Big Man” (1964). The work was made into a 1970 motion picture adaptation which starred Dustin Hoffman. Born Thomas Charles Berger, his father worked for a Cincinnati-area school district. Both of Thomas’ parents were avid readers and encouraged their son to take […]

Thomas Betterton (1635 - 1710)

Actor. He excelled in Shakespeare’s characters of Hamlet, Othello, Brutus and Hotspur. In 1662 he married Mary Saunderson, also an actress. (bio by: MC)

Thomas Bilotti (1940 - 1985)

Thomas Bilotti Over the years, Bilotti became a close aide-de-camp, confidant and chauffeur for capo Paul Castellano. Bilotti was a regular visitor to Castellano’s Todt Hill, Staten Island mansion and was considered a close family friend. However, when Castellano started an affair with his maid, Bilotti kept it secret from Castellano’s wife. He would also […]

Thomas Blackwell (1804 - 1879)

Entrepreneur. Co-founder of Crosse & Blackwell. He met Edmund Crosse in 1819 when they were apprentices at the same firm, West and Wyatt, which produced pickles, sauces and condiments. They bought out their employer in 1829 and renamed the company after themselves, expanding their line of goods by purchasing new recipes from top chefs. Two […]

Thomas Blake Glover (1838 - 1911)

Entrepreneur.  Blake was a Scottish merchant who came to Japan in 1959. Soon after his arrivial, he founded the Glover Trading Company in Nagasaki to export gold and silver and to import ships and weapons for the Choshu and Satsuma clans. In 1865, he imported the first locomotive in Japan and later established shipyards and […]

Thomas Blood (1618 - 1680)

As part of the expression of discontent, Thomas Blood conspired to storm Dublin Castle, usurp the government, and kidnap James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, for ransom. On the eve of the attempt, the plot was foiled. Blood managed to evade the authorities by hiding with his countrymen in the […]

Thomas Bouch (1822 - 1880)

Engineer.  A specialist in railway design,  he is credited with inventing caissons and train ferries. His notoriety,  however, rests on the original Tay Bridge in Dundee,  Scotland,  completed in 1878.  It collapsed during high winds on December 28,  1879,  killing 75 people.  An investigation concluded in terms that the bridge was badly designed,  badly constructed, […]

Thomas Bracken (1843 - 1898)

Poet. He wrote New Zealand’s National Anthem “God Defend New Zealand”. It was published in 1876.

Thomas Brigham Bishop (1835 - 1905)

Songwriter. He produced the melody and lyrics for the song “John Brown’s Body” in 1859. Published in 1861, it gained popularity during the Union troops in the Civil War, and the melody was used as the basis for Julia Ward Howe’s “Battle Hymn of the Republic”. During the Civil War he played as a clarinetist […]

Thomas Broadhurst (1970 - 1936)

Playwright. He wrote the plays ‘Evangeline'(1913) and ‘Pleasant Sins’ (1919), which was made into the movie “Damaged Love”(1931).  (bio by: Ginny M)  Family links:  Spouse:  Iva Broadhurst (1875 – 1949)* *Calculated relationship

Thomas Browne (1605 - 1682)

Author and Physician. Born in the parish of St Michael le Querne in London, educated at Oxford. He wrote ‘Religio Medici’, a literate attempt to reconcile the disciplines of science and religion. An authorised version was published in 1643. In the late 50’s he wrote ‘Urn Burials’, a reflection on mortality, and the curious ‘Garden […]

Thomas Calloway Lea, Jr (1877 - 1945)

Renowned criminal lawyer who became mayor of El Paso, Texas (1915-17).  He served during Pancho Villa’s activities in the Mexican Interior and on the boarder.  He threatened Villa with arrest if he came to El Paso.  In retaliation Villa offered a standing reward of a thousand pesos in gold to anyone who would deliver on […]

Thomas Carlyle (1795 - 1881)

Scottish Philosopher, Satirist, Author, and Historian. He was born at Ecclefechan, in Dumfries, Scotland, to Calvinist parents. He attended school at the Annan Academy in Annan, Dumfries, Scotland, but left after three years due to constant bullying by his classmates. In 1809 he graduated from the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, and became a mathematics […]