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Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet

(1894-1976), Newspaper magnate

Sitter in 9 portraits
Born in Toronto, Thomson established his career in Canada, setting up his own radio transmitter at North Bay in 1931, founding what later became the NBC network, before moving to the UK aged sixty. He acquired his first British paper, The Scotsman in 1953, and in July 1959, he bought the Kemsley group, of which The Sunday Times was the major asset. Thomson launched the first colour newspaper magazine The Sunday Times Magazine in 1962. In 1966 he acquired The Times from the Astor family, and continued to shape the British newspaper industry throughout the 1960s-70s. His other business interests included Scottish Television, and North Sea oil. He was created a peer in 1964.

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Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet, by Sir David Low - NPG 4529(363)

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet

by Sir David Low
pencil, circa 1950s-1963
NPG 4529(363)

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet, by Sir David Low - NPG 4529(364)

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet

by Sir David Low
pencil, circa 1950s-1963
NPG 4529(364)

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet, by Sir David Low - NPG 4529(365)

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet

by Sir David Low
pencil, circa 1950s-1963
NPG 4529(365)

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet, by Lord Snowdon - NPG P1929

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet

by Lord Snowdon
gelatin silver print, 4 May 1965
NPG P1929

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet, by Walter Bird - NPG x185677

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet

by Walter Bird
bromide print, 7 September 1964
NPG x185677

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet, by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios - NPG x125971

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch colour transparency, 6 April 1967
NPG x125971

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet, by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios - NPG x125708

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 27 July 1971
NPG x125708

Web image not currently available

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 6 April 1967
NPG x125970

Web image not currently available

Roy Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet

by Rex Coleman, for Baron Studios
5 x 4 inch film negative, 6 April 1967
NPG x125969

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