Thomas Brassey II at helm of The Sunbeam

Thomas Brassey (1805-1870) was a world-famous railway contractor, who built a large part of the railway system not only of England, but also France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Eastern Europe, India and Argentina. Although he lost over £1 million on the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, when he died at St Leonards in 1870 he left a fortune of over £5 million to his family.

His eldest son, Thomas II, (1836-1918), studied law, but his interests were political. In 1860 he married Annie Allnutt and they went to live at Beauport Park, Hastings. After attempts elsewhere Thomas was elected Liberal MP for Hastings in 1868.Two years later he and Annie moved into Normanhurst Court, a mansion at Catsfield, Sussex, built for them by Thomas Brassey I.
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Annie Brassey

Thomas gradually moved up the political ladder, joining Gladstone's government in 1880 as Secretary to the Admiralty. He received a knighthood in 1881, became Baron Brassey of Bulkeley in 1886 and Earl Brassey in 1911. Among other appointments, he also was made Governor of Victoria, Australia and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.
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