Background
Joseph Mears was born in 1871 in Hammersmith, London, the elder son of Joseph Mears, a builder.
Joseph Mears was born in 1871 in Hammersmith, London, the elder son of Joseph Mears, a builder.
In 1907, Mears acquired the business of the Thames Electric & Motor Launch Company at Eel Pie Island and he went on to build up a large fleet of passenger launches on the Thames. In 1919 he formed his business into Joseph Mears Launches & Motors Limited, and acquired a garage immkn Richmond, along with several motor coaches. The company continued until 1945, when it passed to a newly formed company, Thames Launches Limited.
He formed Joseph Mears Cinemas Limited which built up a group of cinemas around the Richmond area.
Mears was Mayor of Richmond from 1931 to 1932.
He died in October 1935 and is buried in Richmond Cemetery in London. Mears left an estimated fortune of £30m.