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banker philanthropist collector
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1839, the son of John W. and Sophia Kezia (Atkinson) Thomas. On his father's side he was the grandson of John Thomas who emigrated from Wales prior to 1802; his mother's ancestors came to Maryland with Lord Baltimore.
He graduated from the Episcopal Academy.
He worked six years as a clerk for his father, a dry-goods merchant with banking connections. In 1863 his financial aptitude attracted the attention of Jay Cooke, whose banking house Thomas entered, and there proved himself a quick pupil, working hard to promote the flotation of government war loans. When Cooke rearranged his partnerships, January 1, 1866, he included Thomas with a share of 5% and assurance of $3000 annually, although the young man brought no property into the firm and was then possessed of not more than $3000, his savings from his salary as clerk.
Thomas rapidly became Cooke's right-hand man in Philadelphia, but the latter's failure in 1873 unfortunately absorbed all of Thomas' small fortune. By December following, however, he was forming a new banking and brokerage connection, known first as Joseph M. Shoemaker & Company, and later as Thomas & Shoemaker. The steady success of this house attracted the interest of another prominent financier, Anthony J. Drexel, and on January 1, 1883, Thomas was admitted to partnership in the local firm of Drexel & Company, in the New York firm of Drexel, Morgan & Company, and in the Paris firm of Morgan, Harjes & Company. Again, he became a strong asset to the houses with which he was connected, and from December 31, 1894, he served for ten years as the senior resident partner in the Philadelphia firm. Through these connections with the leading American bankers he contributed to the directive genius which placed the control of United States transportation in banking hands.
While Thomas' business career differed little from that of other successful financiers of his generation, he won some claim to notice through his avocations – church work, philanthropy, and the collection of rare objects. As early as 1868 he began employing his talent for organization in building up the Protestant Episcopal Church. For many years he was superintendent of the Sunday School connected with the Church of the Holy Apostles, and he gave much time and thought to the training of teachers and the advancement of religious education. He set up the machinery for the annual financing of the Church's missions and schools, serving as treasurer of the Board of Missions.
In his later years he became known to agents abroad and at home as a discriminating purchaser willing to pay the large prices exacted for rare things. His collections included Shakespeare folios; many autographs, including those of the signers of the Declaration of Independence; and William Penn's original "Charter of Liberties to the people of the State of Pennsylvania. " In the room where these treasures were kept, he installed a pipe organ, whereon he played with skill for his own relaxation.
He died in Philadelphia, survived by his widow, two sons, and a daughter.
George Clifford is famous as a prominant banker and philanthropist. As wealth grew he and his wife became known, not alone for the generosity of their public benefactions, but particularly for the private aid which they bestowed. Donations for parish chapels, parish houses, a gymnasium, and a nurses' home on the one hand, were matched by quiet help to students and hard-pressed families on the other.
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(This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of th...)
In November 26, 1867, Thomas married Ada Elizabeth, daughter of J. Barlow Moorhead, a brother of Cooke's partner, William G. Moorhead, and a prominent Pennsylvania iron master.
