Leading South Wales Man's Career - 'The "Financial Times" made Mr T. R. Thompson, J.P., the subject of its sketch on Saturday, describing him as one of the most representative men who have been chosen in connection with British shipping and South Wales trade.

It was in 1856, at the age of ten years, that he came to Cardiff with his father and the sketch states that he was placed at a comparatively early age in the office of a ship broker in Nantes. On his return to this country he accepted an engagement in a large French house in Swansea, and subsequently took charge of a shipbroking business established by his father in Cardiff, to which he succeeded on the latter's death in 1864. His thorough knowledge of dock business and shipping matters generally, brought him to the notice of the late Mr Shirley, Lord Bute's solicitor, who frequently made use of his services in respect of the various Parliamentary Bills affecting the port and district, and, in 1882, he was elected, in conjunction with the late Mr John Fry, to represent the shipowners, who, with a body of freighters and others, were about to promote the Barry Dock undertaking.

In this capacity Mr Thompson gave valuable evidence before the Parliamentary Committees in 1883 and 1884 as to the loss to shipowners and the public occasioned by the detention of vessels at the Cardiff and Penarth Docks, which led to the authorisation of the Barry Dock in 1884. Mr Thompson, having foreseen that the Barry Dock Railway Station would be the business centre for the Barry Dock, leased in conjunction with two or three personal friends, the whole of the 30 acres of land belonging to the Jenner estate adjoining it. The event justified his prevision, and a town of importance has now grown up on this estate.

Mr Thompson is Chairman of the Barry Graving Dock and Engineering Company, of the Barry Pilotage Board, of the Bristol Channel Employers' Mutual Accident Indemnity Association, Ltd., and of the Plenmeller Collieries, Ltd., whose property is situated near Newcastle-on-Tyne. He is also a director of the Barry Railway Company, the Vale of Glamorgan Railway Company and of the Penarth Pontoon, Slipway and Ship Repairing Company, while he is, of course, head of the firm of Matthew Thompson, shipbrokers, coal exporters and pitwood importers, one of the oldest established firms in the Bristol Channel. He was High Sheriff of Glamorganshire in 1898-1899, is now Justice of the Peace for the county, and is also one of the principal shareholders in the steamship fleet of Mr James Westoll, of Sunderland." - The Cardiff Times [xxx] [361] 7th May 1910.

Thomas Roe Thompson was born on 6 February 1846 at 10 Dundas Street, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, on the north shore of the river Wear, the second son and fourth child of Matthew and Celia (née Roe) Thompson, ropemaker and shipowner

Little is known about young Thomas Roe Thompson until he moved with his father, Matthew Thompson, and his uncle, John Thompson, to South Wales in 1858 at the age of 12.

According to the "History of the Barry Railway Company 1921-24", he joined his father in the business of Matthew Thompson and later, in conjunction with Captain John Cory, he embarked into the enterprise of ship owning.

From his earliest acquaintance with Cardiff, he made himself thoroughly conversant with the requirements of the port there. Previous to this, he was placed in the office of a Courtier Maritime at Nantes, where beside learning all there was to know of ship-broking, he also acquired a very thorough knowledge of the French language which was to serve him well in later life.

After his father, Matthew Thompson died in 1864, Thomas traded as T.R. Thompson & Co at 2 Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff.

He is buried with several other members of his family in the churchyard at Llandough. - [1043]