Thomas Scott Turnbull
Encyclopedia
Thomas Scott Turnbull was the son of a Newcastle
saddler
. He went on to open one of the largest drapery
houses in the North East of England, was a founder member of a daily provincial newspaper
and served as Mayor of Sunderland.
, before moving to Sunderland in 1850 and starting his own business.
of nearly 2,500 volumes for their use. A second, smaller, Albion House drapery was also operated in Silver Street, Durham
.
. He was elected to Sunderland Town Council, representing Bridge Ward, in 1866, but retired three years later rather than standing for re-election on account of his business commitments.
It was Turnbull's interest in politics which led to his friendship, and future business partnership, with Samuel Storey
. Storey, a former teacher
and future MP
for Sunderland, was aware of a gap in the market for a local daily newspaper, and was also keen to find a method of publicising his Radical
points of view. Storey and Turnbull were two of the original seven founders of the Sunderland Echo
in 1873. Each of the seven invested £500 towards the project and the paper is still published today.
Turnbull returned to politics following a seven-year break, after taking his son, Edward, into partnership. He was elected to the council in 1876, this time for Bishopwearmouth
Ward, and became Mayor of Sunderland in November 1880. He died of typhoid fever
, however, in March of the following year and was succeeded as Mayor by Samuel Storey.
, four sons and three daughters. He was laid to rest in the Turnbull family mausoleum
at Bishopwearmouth Cemetery
.
His son, Thomas Strover Turnbull, became the youngest winner of the boat race
in 1873 with Cambridge
, at the age of 18 years and 12 days, a record that stands to this day.
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
saddler
Saddler
Saddler is both a skilled trade and a surname. As a trade, it refers to the occupation of making saddles.Saddler may refer to* Osmund Saddler* Sandy SaddlerAlso* Saddler, reporting name for the R-16 missile...
. He went on to open one of the largest drapery
Drapery
Drapery is a general word referring to cloths or textiles . It may refer to cloth used for decorative purposes – such as around windows – or to the trade of retailing cloth, originally mostly for clothing, formerly conducted by drapers.In art history, drapery refers to any cloth or...
houses in the North East of England, was a founder member of a daily provincial newspaper
Local news
In journalism, local news refers to news coverage of events in a local context which would not normally be of interest to those of other localities, or otherwise be of national or international scope.-Television:...
and served as Mayor of Sunderland.
Early life
Thomas Scott Turnbull, the son of saddler John Turnbull, was born in Newcastle on October 28, 1825. After being educated at St Mary's School, Newcastle, he went to work for "Dunn and Bainbridge" - then the largest drapery firm in Newcastle. Turnbull soon rose to a "high position", later gaining further experience of the trade by working in several large commercial houses in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, before moving to Sunderland in 1850 and starting his own business.
Business life
Turnbull was extremely forward-thinking, introducing a system of "small profits and quick returns" at a time when established drapers gave long credit. From humble beginnings, he built up his Sunderland-based business "Albion House" into one of the largest drapery houses in Northern England. At his death, it occupied 122-126 High Street West, Sunderland, and the premises included sleeping and dining accommodation for 160 assistants, plus a libraryLibrary
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
of nearly 2,500 volumes for their use. A second, smaller, Albion House drapery was also operated in Silver Street, Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
.
Political life
Politically, Turnbull was a LiberalLiberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
. He was elected to Sunderland Town Council, representing Bridge Ward, in 1866, but retired three years later rather than standing for re-election on account of his business commitments.
It was Turnbull's interest in politics which led to his friendship, and future business partnership, with Samuel Storey
Samuel Storey
Samuel Storey was a British politician born in County Durham. He became a Member of Parliament for Sunderland and the main founder of the Sunderland Echo newspaper.-Early life:...
. Storey, a former teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and future MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Sunderland, was aware of a gap in the market for a local daily newspaper, and was also keen to find a method of publicising his Radical
Political radicalism
The term political radicalism denotes political principles focused on altering social structures through revolutionary means and changing value systems in fundamental ways...
points of view. Storey and Turnbull were two of the original seven founders of the Sunderland Echo
Sunderland Echo
The Sunderland Echo is an evening newspaper serving the Sunderland, South Tyneside and East Durham areas of North East England. The newspaper was founded by Samuel Storey, Edward Backhouse, Edward Temperley Gourley, Charles Palmer, Richard Ruddock, Thomas Glaholm and Thomas Scott Turnbull in 1873,...
in 1873. Each of the seven invested £500 towards the project and the paper is still published today.
Turnbull returned to politics following a seven-year break, after taking his son, Edward, into partnership. He was elected to the council in 1876, this time for Bishopwearmouth
Bishopwearmouth
Bishopwearmouth is an area in Sunderland, North East England.Bishopwearmouth was one of the original three settlements on the banks of the river Wear that merged to form modern Sunderland....
Ward, and became Mayor of Sunderland in November 1880. He died of typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
, however, in March of the following year and was succeeded as Mayor by Samuel Storey.
Private life
Turnbull was a member of the Established Church and warden of St Mark's, Sunderland. He was survived by a widowWidow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
, four sons and three daughters. He was laid to rest in the Turnbull family mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
at Bishopwearmouth Cemetery
Bishopwearmouth Cemetery
Bishopwearmouth Cemetery is a cemetery in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England. It lies between Hylton Road and Chester Road .-History:...
.
His son, Thomas Strover Turnbull, became the youngest winner of the boat race
The Boat Race
The event generally known as "The Boat Race" is a rowing race in England between the Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club, rowed between competing eights each spring on the River Thames in London. It takes place generally on the last Saturday of March or the first...
in 1873 with Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, at the age of 18 years and 12 days, a record that stands to this day.
Further reading
- Sunderland Daily Echo, March 23, 1880 - Turnbull's obituary
- Sunderland Weekly Times, March 26, 1880 - Turnbull's obituary
- Sunderland Daily Post, April 27, 1881 - description of the Turnbull family mausoleum at Bishopwearmouth Cemetery
- Sunderland Times, September 22, 1868 - the re-opening of Albion House after alterations