Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-01-03
SIR THOMAS LIPToN'S WEALTH.
How he Became the Richest Man in England
Starts Without Shilling

How He Became the Richest Man in EnsIand-
Starts Without Shilling
! Sir Thomas Upton, the dought,
English sportsman, who recently trie,
so hard to lift the America cup will
his yacht Shamrock H., is the richest
man in the British empire, if not in
the world. In fact, he probably doe
not know how much he is worth him
self, and the interesting part of it i,
that he was born practically without q
shilling, and in his boyhood days
worked in the rice fields of South Car
olina until he had saved up $500
which was the foundation OF his greal
fortune.
His life story is a lesson to ever,
ambitious youth Of to-day. Being
born in humble circumstances and iu
country where there are obstacles in
the path of progress which are un.
known in this country, he has risen to
knighthood and acquired fabulous
wealth, and by honest methods al
that.
Sir Thomas came OF humble parents
OF the north of Ireland. Several years
before his birth they removed to Glas.
gov. Young Upton had burning am.
bition to own fine yacht when he
was only boy sailing ca:.boat on
the Clyde. He had two other wishes
one was for wealth to keep his poor
parents in luxury and the other was
to have handle 10 his name, go peo.
pie would call him something besides
plain Tommy" All three OF these
he has realized.
At the age Of fifteen he came to the
conclusion that his wishes would not
come true in Scotland. He had been
employed in several capacities, but
they held little chance for advance
ment, 90 with his scanty savings he
purchased steerage passage for Amer.
lea. He arrived in New York in 1865,
just at the close OF the war, only a boy
still in knickerbockers. Things were
not promising even for grown folks,
and he gained little but experience in
New York. He worked his way down
to South Carolina, where he labored
in TIE rice fields. living as closely as
possible and all the time sending half
bis scanty wage home TO his parents.
After two years he concluded there
was4it.le chance To rise here and he
returned to New York, longing to go
back to Scotland, but not until he
could take something to show for his
time. When he had accumulated
$500 he returned home to Glasgow
and opened a little provision store.
Every article in it was paid for in
cash. He made it . rule TO keep out
OF debt, and when the $500 was gone
he waited for returns before buying
more. He swept out his own store,
did his own clerking and slept In bed
under the counter.
After working-hours he laid plans
how to build great fortune. This he
decided was by selling goods cheap to
the masses, and in order 10 do this
they must be purchased cheaply. He
decided the way to do this was to get
them first-handed and eliminate the
middle man. In few years clip
tons" was the most fiourishing store
in Glasgow and he soon opened branch
stores in other parts Of the city. He
became his own Wholesale agent. He
went over to Ireland and coruered- the
whole supply Of bacon and eggs for
his stores. When these were not
enough lie came to America in the
heart Of the pork.producing region
and built his own packing establish
ments at Chicago.
Next Sir Thomas turned his atten.
tion to jams, jellies and canned fruits.
Those articles then were wholly out OF
the reach of the poor-too many
agents handled them before they got
to the retail buyer. There were the
growers, the Wholesale market man,
the canning factories, etc. Upton
eliminated all these by starting his
own fruit farms and canning factories.
He next turned to tea-the great
beverage of England. To get an in.
side track on this staple meant untold
millions. He watched his chance and
bought tea land until he was the lar
gest individual land owner in Ceylou
and added to these coffee and cocos
plantations. On his return to Eng
land he was offered ten million dollars
for his ten business alone, but he
spurned the offer, saying the business
was only in its infancy. This was .
good deal for . man who q few gear,
previous had regarded . shilling ai
quite large sum.
Added to his method of buying, h'
was a liberal and unique advertiser
until the name "Lipton" became I
household word in England. To-da!
he pays more duties to the crown thar
any other concern in the empire; h
employs 10000 men, and has fou
hundred and twenty retail stores il
the United Kingdom. Ifeach one o
these made net profit Of only on
dollar per day it would be great in
come, but they undoubtedly pay vast
" more. No wonder be can spend
million on yacht. So much for am
bition, self. denial, original metho
and hard work. After reading this n
49,, v,on1 sax, % ho navep had n chance.