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Thomas Corbett Mayor of Shrewsbury |
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Home Page |
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Genealogy report of William Corbett |
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Outline Descendant Tree William Corbett |
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Kinship of William Corbett |
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Thomas Corbett's trip around the world 1893/4 |
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Thomas Corbett's Business - Perseverance Iron Works |
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Implements Manufactured by Thomas Corbett |
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Thomas Corbett Mayor of Shrewsbury |
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The Corbett Family Vault |
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Few occupants of the civic chair can pride themselves upon being called to accept the Mayoralty by such a unanimous and hearty voice after so brief a participation in the strenuous duties of municipal work as Mr. Thomas Corbett, the genial and popular Mayor of Shrewsbury, whose good work in other spheres, however, amply justifies the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. Mr. Corbett is the son of the late Mr. Samuel Corbett, an engineer of Wellington, Salop, and was born in that town in 1843. He received a sound education in his native place, where he remained until 1863, when he went to Shrewsbury and commenced a retail business in agricultural implements. Two years later he began manufacturing on a small scale in Chester Street, and not long after purchased premises in Castle Foregate, where he laid the real foundation of what has since developed with remarkable success, and become one of the most important concerns of the kind in the country. Mr. Corbett's specialities in agricultural implements and machinery have gained no less than 750 royal and other first prizes at the principal field trials, international shows and exhibitions throughout the world. Our own King, as the late King of Holland had many years before, in 1872, has manipulated one of the winnowers produced at Mr. Corbett's Perseverance Iron Works, and he has supplied orders for the late Queen, the King, the Khedive, the Home and Colonial Government departments, and many important personages in all parts of the world. Mr. Corbett has made two trips round the globe in the interests of his business, and has made the personal acquaintance of many men of light and leading. On returning from his second tour round the world he was publicly welcomed by the then Mayor and other prominent townsfolk, and presented with an address and gold pendant from his employees, as well as conjointly with Mrs. Corbett a handsome china tea service. He is an Associate of the Italian Society of Arts, of which he has the decoration, medal, and diploma of the first class. For his services in establishing the Shropshire and West Midland Agricultural Society, when he acted as honorary secretary, the members presented him, at their second meeting in 1876, with a massive silver salver and tea and coffee service, an illuminated address, and an oil painting of himself. Mr. Corbett was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the Borough of Shrewsbury in 1892, and for the County of Shropshire in 1895. He has been a County Councillor for one of the four divisions of Shrewsbury since the inception of the Council, and is one of the trustees of the Borough Charities. Since 1875 he has been a member of the Council of the Shropshire and West Midland Agricultural Society, already referred to, and was elected Vice-President for 1906-7, the Duke of Sutherland being President. He is a life member of the U. A. S. of England. He is a member and deacon of the Abbey Foregate Congregational Church. He is an Independent in politics, but does not let politics interfere with his public work. He takes a great interest in the Shropshire Infirmary and other philanthropic institutions.. At the time of the war in South Africa Mr. Corbett had opportunities of showing his loyal and patriotic spirit, and his own two sons were amongst those who went to the front. In 1905 Mr. Corbett visited the battlefields and graveyards in South Africa, and speaks in the highest terms of the noble work performed by the " Guild of Loyal Women " in keeping the graveyard enclosures in the orderly and becoming condition in which he found every one he visited. As manifesting the goodwill which exists between Mr. Corbett and his workmen, they recently presented to him an elaborate and beautifully designed illuminated congratulatory address, with a photo of his Worship the Mayor in his robes and chains of office, also of the Mayoress and chain, of the Perseverance Iron Works, as well of the office staff and workmen employed therein. |