thomas agnew
Thomas A. Agnew
Tom was an active volunteer within his community, supporting various charitable and organizational endeavors including Marine Fore Scholarships. Additionally, he worked longtime at Philadelphia Corrugated Containers.
Established in 1817, Thomas Agnew & Sons quickly rose to become one of Britain’s premier art dealers throughout the 19th century, becoming one of London’s premier dealers for Old Master and modern paintings. Now their stock books have been digitalised.
Early Life and Education
Thomas Agnew was born in Nobleville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to a physician father and attended Jefferson College (which later combined with Washington College to form Washington and Jefferson University) as an undergraduate.
Penn was his playground for both football and wrestling; Kappa Sigma fraternity membership made his path even smoother before graduating with his bachelor’s degree from Wharton. Initially working at Connelly Containers before taking over General Box Company and Philadelphia Corrugated Containers during his business career.
Sir Geoffrey was a well-recognized figure among London art dealers. In 1973 he was knighted and served as chairman of both the Society of London Art Dealers and Artists’ General Benevolent Institution, acting as principal agent for some of his day’s foremost collectors like Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh (1847-1927). Additionally his gallery placed paintings into major museums and collections such as Yale Center for British Art.
Professional Career
Agnew played in 72 baseball games and registered six runs batted in. Additionally, he became known for punching Washington manager Clark Griffith during a brawl incident.
Agnew assumed sole control of Vittore Zanetti’s Manchester framemakers and looking glass makers firm in 1835; later becoming publishers and dealers in art. A London branch was opened later that decade to contribute to the growth of contemporary British art market in this period.
This archive comprises stockbooks, daybooks, diaries, valuation books, cuttings and microfilm that provide a remarkable comprehensive account of the firm’s activities and trade. Major clients included Edward Cecil Guinness, Earl of Iveagh; Alfred Beit; Alfred and Ferdinand de Rothschilds as well as Paul Mellon Norton Simon Foundation of Samuel Kress Foundation among many others.
Achievement and Honors
Thomas Agnew is an esteemed packaging businessman and longtime supporter of the Marine Corps, giving millions of dollars towards helping military children’s education. As such, Thomas has become synonymous with scholarships for Marine children’s children.
Malvern Prep graduate and University of Pennsylvania Wharton School MBA. He serves on several companies and organizations boards, such as Philadelphia Ball Committee.
As well as serving on the University of the Arts London Advisory Council and being honored with an Honorary Fellowship award from that institution, he also founded Friends of The Courtauld, an organisation which supports this renowned school’s operations and activities.
Personal Life
Thomas Agnew was married to Frances Kent Quarles and they shared two children together. Thomas Agnew died peacefully at age 76 on December 31.
Thomas Agnew began his career in Manchester as an apprentice to Vittore Zanetti, an Italian framemaker and print publisher who quickly expanded into picture dealing. Within five years he became sole proprietor of Thomas Agnew & Sons; their business would become well known in Manchester during Victorian period as they helped form many northern industrialists’ art collections such as Joseph Gillott.
Knoedler was highly esteemed both among their customers and fellow dealers like Knoedler, Arthur Joseph Sulley and the Wertheimer brothers – making them key players in Bond Street trade of Old Master paintings.
Net Worth
Agnew took over his father’s Northwest-based family business after inheriting it from him. His grandfather served as a mentor who taught him the value of honoring their legacy; this lesson helped guide the formation of his own family business.
Additionally, he is the chairman and founder of Inspiration Trust, a multi-academy trust which oversees 14 schools in Norfolk. Furthermore, he is active investor in real estate – his net worth has been estimated to be $25 million; however his salary income remains unverified; thus it’s impossible to know exactly how much he earns as a Facebook employee but we can assume his monthly pay ranges from $53,000 – $125.000 depending on their compensation model.