Thomas Brassey

He married Maria Harrison, the daughter of Joseph Harrison, a forwarding and shipping agent, in 1831. His wife was very supportive and motivated him to perform well in his career. The couple had four sons of whom one died in his infancy. The surviving sons all grew up to be successful professionals themselves.

He suffered from cancer during his last days and died from a brain hemorrhage on December 8, 1870. He died a very rich man; at the time of his death his estate was valued at £5,200,000.

His bicentenary was celebrated in November 2005 and a special commemorative train was run from Chester to Holyhead.

He was born on November 7, 1805 as the eldest child of John and Elizabeth Brassey. He had two brothers and a sister. He was educated at home till he was 12 and then sent to The King’s School in Chester.

He became an apprentice to a land surveyor and agent called William Lawton when he was 16. During his apprenticeship he helped to survey the new Shrewsbury to Holyhead road. His apprenticeship ended when he was 21.

Brassey was a very talented and intelligent young man and Lawton was much impressed by him. Lawton took him as a partner and formed the company “Lawton and Brassey”.

The business thrived and expanded beyond land surveying. Soon they were managing stone and sand quarries, and also operating a brick kiln. After Lawton’s death Brassey became the sole proprietor of the flourishing business.

Encouraged by his wife and friends he submitted a tender to build the Dutton Viaduct on the Grand Junction Railway, but lost it. Eventually he won the tender to build the Penkridge Viaduct in 1835 which he completed successfully.

Over the next few years he won contracts to build Chester and Crewe Railway, the Glasgow Paisley and Greenock Railway and the Sheffield and Manchester Railway. He worked on all these projects with other civil engineering partners.

Inspired by the developments the British were making in the railways sector, the French too decided to implement massive railway projects for which tenders from British engineers were invited. Teaming up with a former rival, William Mackenzie, Brassey submitted a tender which was accepted in 1841.

One of the biggest works of his life was building the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. Brassey worked in partnership with Peto, Betts and Sir William Jackson to build this railway line which totaled 539 miles (867 km) in length and connected Quebec to Toronto.