Worthing Herald 22 May 1926
Sir Thomas Pike Skinner Bart.
The Last Survivor of a Remarkable Band of Men
More extended notice of the remarkable career of the late Sir Thomas Skinner Bart, whose death recorded in last Saturday's Worthing Herald will be read with interest by Worthing residents among whom he had lived for a long time. Sir Thomas Skinner was the last survivor of the remarkable band of men who were mainly responsible for the creation of the Canadian Pacific Railway system and the modern Canada of which it has become the core. The original projectors of the system in the early eighties, George Stephen (afterwards Lord Mount-Stephen), Donald A Smith (afterwards Lord Strathcona), R B Angus, W C Van Horne and others found it beyond their powers to inspire the London market with their own confidence in a new and greater Canada stretching from sea to sea. Were not certain Canadian politicians declaring from their places in the Canadian Parliament that the C.P.A. would never earn enough to pay for its own axle grease? Was the then existing Grand Trunk Railway such a bonanza for British investors that more British money could be expected to go in like direction? In the task of dispelling British ignorance and indifference and securing hearty British co-operation no man was able over a long series of years to wield forceful and beneficent influence over Canada's behalf than Thomas Skinner. He cared nothing for the arts of self-advertisement; his influence was the outcome of high intelligence, cool judgement and immovable integrity. Sir Thomas Skinner's career naturally falls into two parts. When as a young man of twenty or so he came to London in the early sixties from his native city of Bristol, he found that the Limited Liability Act of 1862 had started joint-stock company enterprise upon its eventful career. Speculation, inflation and over-trading had become rampant, and their inevitable sequel was panic and the "Black Friday" of 1886. This gave the journalist his chance, and young Skinner soon earned a reputation for exceptional insight and integrity on the financial side of the London and provincial press. His ideas took permanent literary form in 1875 in the issue of the now world famous "Stock Exchange Yearbook" which has of late years taken to itself a weekly newspaper supplement in the form of the Stock Exchange Gazette. Two kindred enterprises followed in 1880, "The Directory of Directors" and "The London Banks".
It was at this time that Canada was starting her new national career. In conjunction with Canadian ministers, of whom Sir John Macdonald and Sir Charles Tupper were foremost, a group of daring Canadian men of affairs set themselves to what proved to be the final and successful effort to fulfil an essential condition of the Federal compact, the construction of a railway to the Pacific coast. Mr Stephen as president of the new concern, turned to Mr Skinner as a guide for the Canadian Pacific Railway in the world of London finance, and thenceforward the upbuilding of Canada became his life's concern. The "Canadian Gazette" which he started in 1883, was an essential part of his campaign of enlightenment in this country. In these formative years for Canada, Mr Skinner led the way in a new conception for Englishmen in what Canada was and what her future must be as a partner in a nation within an Empire. His first financial triumph was the issue of £3 million in 5 per cent debentures by the House of Baring in July 1885. This issue was soon followed by a larger one, and from that time forward the reception of C.P.A. securities on the London market was assured. Acting on the maxim that in entering into a transaction with anybody you should proceed so as to make him anxious to deal with you again, he maintained harmonious relations between the railway and what was, until the dislocation of the exchanges as a result of the Great War, the only market it cared for. He was appointed a director of the Canadian Pacific in 1880 and remained on the board to the end of his days, sole survivor of those who were his first colleagues. Associated enterprises soon claimed his services as director. He was for nearly forty years a director of the Hudson's Bay Company, finally succeeding Lord Strathcona as Governor. For years he was a member of the London Committee of the Bank of Montreal. He was a director of the Laurentide Company, one of the pioneer power, pulp and paper companies of Canada. These as well as membership of the Colonisation Board, having for its objects assisting colonisation in Canada from the congested districts in the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland and of the Council of the Imperial Institute, led to the offer of a baronetcy in 1912. Sir Thomas was a Justice of the Peace for Middlesex and resided at 22 Pont Street SW and "The Gables" Worthing. He was twice married:- firstly in 1866 to Sara Margaret who died in 1902, leaving 4 sons and 4 daughters, of whom all but one son and one daughter survive; and secondly to Martha Laurette, widow of Mr C J Williamson of New York, and she died in January 1924. The new baronet Sir Thomas Hewitt Skinner is the eldest son of the late Sir Thomas and is 51 years of age. he has two sons and two daughters.
The Funeral
The funeral service which was attended only by members of the family and a few intimate friends, took place at St Botolph's Church, Worthing on Saturday, the interment following in Heene Cemetery. The Rev. J P Fallowes (rector) officiated and was assisted by rev. L S Blenkins (curate). The family mourners included three daughters and two sons of the late baronet, Mr palmer (private secretary), and a number of friends, among whom were Mr W Sams JP, Mrs Fallowes (wife of the rector), the Rev. J Puttick, Mr Cory, Mr J B Saunders, and Mr A Hawthorn. Floral tributes were sent by :- Hewitt and Nellie; Gordon and Irene; Stanley and Vivien; Millie, Dolly and James; Elsie; Muriel, Leslie and Sheila; Lorna; Violet and Charlie; John and Marjorie; Kenneth and Duncan; Sir Woodman and Lady Burbidge. Wreaths were also sent by the maids and gardeners at "The Gables", the staff at 22 Pont Street and the staff of Thomas Skinner and Co.