Thomas Adams

Thomas Adams is the name of:

Politicians

Military

Musicians

Writers and publishers

Thomas Adams (publisher)

Thomas Adams (in or before 1566–1620) was an English publisher. Son of Thomas Adams, a yeoman of Neen Savage, Shropshire, he became an apprentice to Oliver Wilkes, a member of the Stationers' Company in London, on 29 September 1582; he was transferred to a new master, George Bishop, on 14 October 1583 (Bishop's will indicates that Adams was a "kinsman"). Adams himself was admitted to the Company on 15 October 1583. By 1591, he had established himself as a printer based at the sign of the White Lion at St. Paul's Churchyard in the city. His business may have started when printer Robert Walley transferred ownership of a vast collection of books and ballads to Adams, but existing copies indicate that Adams had these works printed for him by others.

In 1603, he branched out to the music publishing business, financing or printing several works by John Dowland (including The Third and Last Booke of Songes or Aires in 1603 and Andreas Ornithoparcus his Micrologus in 1609), his son Robert Dowland (Varietie of Lute-Lessons and A Musicall Banquet both in 1610), and Thomas Ravenscroft. John Dowland may have also considered Adams as publisher for Lachrimae, but ultimately decided against it.

Thomas Adams (manufacturer and philanthropist)

Thomas Adams (5 February 1807 - 16 May 1873) was a lace manufacturer and philanthropist based in Nottingham.

Early years

Thomas Adams was born at Worksop, Nottinghamshire on 5 February 1807. His father (also named Thomas) was a maltster, a trade in the doldrums at that time. Not long after Thomas' birth, the family moved to Ware, Hertfordshire (his father's birthplace) to try and improve their situation. Thomas Senior died shortly afterwards, and his wife took the family up to the Sheffield area, where her family originated from.

In 1821, aged 14, Thomas was sent to Newark on Trent, Nottinghamshire to become apprentice to a draper in the town. After serving his full seven years, he moved to London. During this time he was tricked into going over to Paris, and was robbed and abandoned there. Through the help of an English lace merchant, he was able to make his return journey. Reflecting on his stupidity in later years, Adams felt that the incident had influenced his life from then on. Safely back in London, he had a brief time in the warehouse of Messrs Boden, a Derby lace company, before moving to Nottingham.