Thomas Lipton

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Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton Bt KCVO (born May 10, 1850 in Glasgow; died October 2, 1931 in London) was a Scottish self-made man, merchant, and yachtsman, who created the famous Lipton tea brand and was the most persistent challenger in the history of the America's Cup.

In 1865 Lipton went to the U.S. and held various jobs there. He returned to Britain five years later and opened his first provision shop in Glasgow. This enterprise proved to be successful and Lipton soon established a chain of groceries throughout Britain. While Lipton was expanding his empire, tea prices were falling and supply was growing among his middle class customers. In 1888, when his empire had grown to 300 stores, he entered the tea trade and opened his tea-tasting office. He started bypassing traditional wholesale distribution channels in order to sell teas at unprecedented prices to the untapped poor working class market. In order to provide his shops with goods Lipton bought plantations and in doing so - amongst other things - he established the famous Lipton tea brand which is still in existence today.

King Edward VII and King George V both shared their interest in yachting with Lipton and enjoyed his company. Between 1899 and 1930 he challenged the American holders of the America's Cup through the Royal Ulster Yacht Club (Lipton was of Irish descent) five times with his yachts called Shamrock -Shamrock V. His well publicised efforts to win the cup, which earned him a specially designed cup for "the best of all losers", made his tea brand famous in the U.S. As a self-made man Lipton, however, was no natural member of the British upper class and the Royal Yacht Squadron only admitted him shortly before his death.

Before the first Football World Cup was held in 1930, Thomas Lipton donated the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy which was contested in two international tournaments in Turin in 1909 and 1911.