Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar

Sir Thomas Robert Dewar (1864 - 1930) was a Scottish whisky distiller who, along with his brother John Dewar, built their family label, Dewar's, into an international success. They blended their whisky to make it more appealing to the international palate and Sir Thomas demonstrated particular skills in marketing, travelling the world to find new markets and promote his product, exploiting romantic images of Scotland and tartan in his advertising.

Life

Tommy Dewar was born in 1864 in Perth, Scotland. Son of John Dewar Sr., he was exposed at a very young age to the spirit industry in Scotland as his father founded the John Dewar & Sons, Ltd. Tommy earned his education in Perth, as well as in Edinburgh and he soon realized that farming was not his calling. After his father's death he worked with his brother John to continue and grow their families brand. Gifted with a charisma, Tommy Dewar was able to expand his father's business on a global scale.

Leaving his brother John A. Dewar Jr. in Scotland to run the business, Tommy set out to publicize their brand to the world. Visiting 26 countries over the course of 2 years, the Dewar's brand was put on the map as one of the premiere Scotch Whiskys available. Tommy kept a journal of his travels which were consolidated and published in the book titled, "Ramble Round the Globe," published by Chatto and Windus in 1894.

He entered politics and was Conservative Member of Parliament for St George's, Tower Hamlets from 1900 to 1906. During this period, Dewar was noted for his hostility to "pauper immigration" and played an active part in campaigning for the legislation that became the Aliens Act 1905.As the predominint emigrant group arriving in the East End in this period were Jews from Eastern Europe, Dewar's statements have been generally regarded as anti-semitic.

Dewar was knighted in 1902 and in 1919 was created the first Baron Dewar, however as he never married he was also the last Baron Dewar. In 1925, the Dewar Brothers took their company to join the union - the Distillers Company Ltd - both joining the board.

Dewar Challenge Shield

Tommy Dewar created several Challenge Shields for various sports around the United Kingdom and abroad. [http://www.belgraveharriers.com/sot/Sot.pdf] as well as the Sheriff of London Charity Shield for Association football.

"Dewarism"

Dewar was the founder of an eponymous "Dewarism" philosophy, he attempted to show that the way to success in life is not through an arduous or painstaking work agenda; success can be attained without compromising joy in life. This idea being the core of the philosophy, Tommy wrote smaller statements or observations that he accumulated throughout his life. A sample of the thoughts and philosophies of Tommy Dewar are found below.

No. 22 Sometimes doing nothing is doing something.

No. 36 Enjoy now, another now is coming.

No. 43 Less pain, more gain.

No. 49 The pause is a part of the walk.

No. 27 Go ahead, look around.

No. 28 You better wait for the unexpected.

No. 34 Making a mistake is also an achievement.

No. 47 Leave for tomorrow what you can't do today.

No. 58 The further you are from a problem, the smaller it gets.

No. 64 If you think you know it all, you are missing something.

No. 73 Proper rules are not written.

No. 77 Sometimes a step forward needs a step back.

No. 86 If you get to the top on your own, who'll take the picture?

No. 14 When a man says his word is as his bond - get his bond.

No. 17 We should not say how's business, but where is business

No. 19 Never invest in a going concern until you know which way it is going.

No. 21 Keep advertising and advertising will keep you.

No. 23 The quality of the article should be its greatest achievement.

No. 31 If you do not advertise, you fossilize.

No. 38 Yesterday's success belongs to yesterday.

No. 42 In charity there is no excess.

No. 46 The greatest mistake you can make is to be continually fearing you will make one.

No. 51 Life is a one-way street and you're not coming back.

No. 54 Fish stimulates the brain, but fishing stimulates the imagination.

No. 66 Respectability is the state of never being caught doing anything which gives you pleasure.

No. 68 Of two evils, choose the more interesting.

No. 70 There is no traffic congestion on the straight and narrow path.

No. 76 We have a great regard for old age when it is bottled.

No. 79 A philosopher is a man who can look at an empty glass with a smile.

No. 80 A teetotaller is one who suffers from thirst instead of enjoying it.

No. 83 Minds are like parachutes: they only function when they're open.

No. 85 Experience is what you get when you're looking for something else.

No. 87 Ability without enthusiasm is like a rifle without a bullet.

No. 92 You can send a boy to college but you can't make him think.

No. 95 If we are here to help others, I often wonder what the others are here for.

No. 97 Don't question your wife's judgment; look who she married.

References

* [http://www.dewarswow.com/home/ Dewar's World of Whisky]
* [http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/people/famousfirst2236.html Gazetteer for Scotland]
* [http://www.dewarism.com Homepage for Dewarism]
* [http://www.dewars.com Dewar's & Sons Scotch Whiskey Homepage]