Brassey
THOMAS, an English engineer and railroad contractor, born in Baerton, Cheshire, Nov. 7, 1805. At the age of 16 he was apprenticed to a surveyor, whom he succeeded in business. After building parts of the Grand Junction and the London and Southampton railways, he contracted, in 1840, in partnership with another, to build the railway from Paris to Rouen. In a few years he held under contract, in England and France, some 10 railways, involving a capital of $180,000,000, and employing 75,000 men. In partnership with Betts and Peto he undertook the Grand Trunk of Canada, 1,100 miles in length, including the great bridge at Montreal. His army of men were employed in nearly every part of Europe, South America, Australia, India, etc. He amassed great wealth, but continued to be generous to the needy, and modest and simple in his tastes and manners.
Sir Arthur Helps wrote his "Life" (1872). He died in Hastings, Dec. 8,