Thomas Calvert was born to well-to-do parents in Yorkshire
England on February 10, 1828, and was educated at
Scarborough grammar school.
At the age of 19 he entered the employ of George Hudson, the railway king of
London.
After one year with
Hudson he accepted a position at a bank.
In 1849 he came to the
U.S. locating in
Philadelphia and worked for the Pennsylvania Central Railway Co.
While working for the railway, he bought an interest in George Cook & Co., engravers and color printers.
Due to health concerns, his physician recommended he move to
Minnesota, selling his interest in the firm.
At
Minnesota, he worked in the lumber business from 1853 to 1858.
In 1858, he lost nearly everything he had – chiefly lumber and logs.
In 1859, his health having improved, he moved back east and settled in
Buffalo where he worked for Sage & Co.
In the early 1860s, Calvert moved to Detroit Michigan and entered a partnership with John Gibson, a lithographer and they carried on business under the name John Gibson & Co. In 1864, Calvert purchased Gibson’s interest in the firm and operated under the name Calvert & Co. His business was successful and in 1867, he incorporated it as the Calvert Lithographing & Engraving Company, with himself, Claude B. Candler and Charles Calvert (Thomas’ son) as officers. The firm had a capital stock of $40,000.
In March 1897, the corporation expired and its property and assets were transferred to the Calvert Lithographing Company. The new firm maintained officers in San Francisco, Chicago and St. Louis, as well as its main office in Detroit. Calvert died on February 8, 1900. Candler became the firm’s president. Soon after Thomas’ death, his son Charles retired from the business and thus ended the family’s involvement in the company.
Under Candler, the firm flourished. In 1950, the firm was sold to a group of Chicago investors. In 1970, the firm was absorbed by a the Canadian printing company Lawson & Jones.
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