Jules Thorn

Sir Jules Thorn (7 February 1899 – 12 December 1980) was the founder of Thorn Electrical Industries, one of the United Kingdom's largest electrical businesses.

Career Born in Vienna to Jewish parents Leibisch Thorn and Teme Thorn (née Finkelstein), Julius (later known as Jules) Thorn was conscripted into the Austrian Army during World War I. After the War he studied at the Handelshochschule (Business School) in Vienna. In 1926 Olso went bankrupt and Thorn chose to set up business on his own trading as the Electric Lamp Service Company.

By 1936 he merged the companies together, which became one of the largest electrical businesses in the country, Thorn Electrical Industries.

In 1970 Thorn retired from full-time involvement in the business to devote himself to his racehorses and his collection of Impressionist paintings. He was a successful racehorse owner and won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket with High Top in 1972. Only in 1976 did he retire as chairman of the business. who died in 2009.

Family In 1928 he married Dorothy Olive Tanner and together they went on to have one son and one daughter. He married a second time, to Jean Norfolk, in 1971.