Thomas Mather, 1856 - 1937

Abstract

Professor Thomas Mather was born at Higher Walton, near Preston, on 15 December, 1856, and died in London on 23 June, 1937. In moulding his career he had no initial help from private sources. He came from a family of engineers. After attending a local church school he was apprenticed to an engineering firm at Higher Walton, and afterwards (1875—78) to Messrs. Clayton & Sons, engineers and boilermakers, of Preston. His daughter states that during these three years he also attended evening classes at St. Paul’s School, Preston, and that this involved leaving home for the foundry every morning at 5 a.m. and returning at night after 10 p.m. Such practical experience made him eligible as a candidate for a Whitworth Scholarship at a time when these were few in number and of greater monetary value than is nowadays the case.