Thomas Somerset

Sir Thomas Somerset DL (14 December 1870 – 16 June 1947) was an industrialist and Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament (MP) for North Belfast from 1929 to 1945.

Life and career Thomas Somerset was the son of an engineer, James Somerset. Somerset was a native of Largymore, County Down. He established Thomas Somerset and Co. Ltd., linen manufacturers in 1891. This enterprise proved profitable, with factories at Belfast, Dublin, Greyabbey and Portaferry, giving employment to over 1,200 people. He was also a director of Commercial Insurance Co. of Ireland, Ltd., and Chairman of the Northern Counties Committee of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. He was knighted in 1936. Somerset died on 16 June 1947 at his home at The Weir on the Upper Malone Road, South Belfast.

Family Somerset married Ethel Parker of Cheshire and had two children, a son and daughter.