Thomas Clarkson.

About Thomas Clarkson

Thomas Clarkson,, was an English Canadian merchant, banker, businessman, receiver, director, and associated with the Family Compact, although was noted for his desire to increase free trade relations with the United States whom he described as "Canada's most important traders and partners", even advocating for an ambassador be sent to D.C. to exert "some active, intelligent, and influential representation of the commercial interests of Canada near the controlling power of the United States" and reciprocity with the British West India Island. He established, in 1864, the trustee and receivership business which would eventually become Clarkson Gordon. He was a founder, incorporator and first president of the Toronto Board of Trade, president of the Commercial Building and Investment Society, commissioner of the Port of Toronto, director of the Beacon Fire and Life Insurance Co. of London, the Toronto for Unity Fire Association with Allan MacNab, Federick Jarvis, and Benjamin Cronyn, and the Bank of Toronto, the former of which he served as vice president in its inaugural year in 1859.