Richard Beaumont-Thomas [1] was the Managing Director of a major South Wales iron, steel and tinplate manufacturing company named Richard Thomas and Co Ltd[2] which eventually merged with Baldwins[3] to become Richard Thomas and Baldwins.
He was born on 25 May 1860 at Oxford, the eldest son of his father, tinplate manufacturer Richard Thomas[1].[4] Richard Beaumont Thomas married Nora Anderson, the fourth daughter of James Anderson at Holy Trinity Church, Tulse Hill, London on 2 August 1888.
Richard and Nora produced four children
During 1885, assisted by Robert Davies, Richard Beaumont-Thomas invented a cleaning machine and a dusting machine.[6] These machines made possible the continuous production of tinplate. Richard Beaumont-Thomas continued this inventive streak, in 1897 together with his brother Hubert Spence-Thomas,[7] a continuous tinning machine[8] was patented. The patents for these inventions were issued and utilised by the tinplate industry globally.
Richard Beaumont-Thomas died on 14 February 1917 leaving a will of £449,285-18-9 pounds sterling. The will, due to its complexity was converted into a Private Bill, an Act of Parliament named the Beaumont Thomas Estate 1929 (19 & 20 Geo.5)[2] [9] read in the House of Lords.