Goodwin Newton
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Thomas Henry Goodwin Newton (1835 - 1907) was the Chairman of Imperial Continental Gas Association, one of the United Kingdom's largest energy businesses.
Early years
Born the eldest son of William Newton II of Barrells Hall at Ullenhall near Henley-in-Arden in Warwickshire, Goodwin Newton was born in 1835 in Birmingham.[1]
Inheritance
Upon the death of his father William II in 1862, Goodwin Newton inherited Barrells Hall and became Lord of the Manor of Ullenhall.[2]
He and his brother inherited a "quite absurdly large fortune" estimated at around £100 million in today's money. The family fortune came from Welsh Slate Quarries on the estate he owned by Llanberis, North Wales including Bryn Bras Castle, as well as vast amounts of land in Birmingham, including large portions of New Street in the centre.
He also gave up a career as a Barrister and potential Member of Parliament in the House of Commons to become a Country Gentleman and landowner.
Scottish Estates
With his younger brother Canon Horace Newton, a very well respected vicar and Gentleman, who was Vicar of Driffield and later Redditch, he bought the Glencripesdale Estate on Loch Sunart, Argyll, Scotland as a holiday home for the family.
Both brothers then set about purchasing more neighbouring land and Estates, including the Isle of Carna and Rahoy and eventually building the whole land mass up to circa 28,000 acres, encompassing 41 square miles of land, and 20 miles of costline along the southern shore of Loch Sunart.
Chairman
He was Chairman of Imperial Continental Gas Association, now known as Calor Gas, for a long period during the late nineteenth century.
Philanthropy
During his lifetime he became famous for his philanthropy, giving away millions of pounds in today's money, and building hospitals, schools, theatres, churches and donating to various charities with the support of his brother Canon Horace Newton.