Thomas Manson

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Thomas Manson, Shetland author and publisher, was born on the 5th of November 1859 in Seafield Court, Lerwick. His grandfather had been evicted from Cunningsburgh to make way for sheep, and so moved to Bressay, before Thomas's father John (b.1828), a sailmaker, and mother Jemima Agnes (Tait) (b.1828, Scalloway) came over to Lerwick. Thomas was the third of seven children born to the couple.

Thomas attended the Lerwick Parochial School and was apprenticed as a printer, under Charles D. Jamieson of the Shetland Advertiser, aged 12. When the Advertiser floundered, Manson joined The Shetland Times, before striking out in business himself. In 1889 in Lerwick, he married Margaret Elizabeth Lillias Crutwell (b. 1864, Sunderland). They were to have five children, the youngest of whom, Mortimer, was to become well-known as an author, editor and scholar, publishing under the name T.M.Y. Manson.

In 1885, Thomas established The Shetland News and the firm of T and J Manson with his brother James, a reporter and early photographer, and this important publishing concern went on to produce more than 70 books, including the annual Manson's Shetland Almanac. The Mansons' brother-in-law was the author James Inkster.

As an author, Manson was responsible for Shetland's Roll of Honour and Roll of Service, Lerwick During the Last Half Century (1923) and Humours of a Peat Commission (Vol. 1 1918, Vol. 2 1919, Vol.3 1924). Many of his works were initially serialized, and only subsequently published in book form, so helping to prove that a market for books existed in Shetland for books about Shetland.

Manson was also a talented musician, being one of the Lerwick String Band and conductor of the Gilbert & Sullivan group. He was also Precentor of the United Presbyterian Church. He died on the 8th of May, 1941 in Lerwick.

SEE:

Obituary: The Shetland News, 15th May 1941 The New Shetlander 154, 'Profile of Thomas Manson' by Dr. T.M.Y. Manson