Thomas Charles Sorby

• Birth date            16 February 1836 at Wakefield
• Married                Oct-Dec 1857 to Elizabeth Sorby at Islington, London
• Death date          15 November 1924 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, on 16 February 1836 Thomas Charles Sorby was the son of Thomas Sorby (1798-1845) and Harriet Ann Rayner (1808-1841).  Little is yet known of his early life, saved that he was orphaned by the age of nine. Seemingly he was articled to Charles Reeves in London and remained as his assistant. However, their exact relationship is unclear. Sorby entered a number of competitions in his own name in the period 1856-1866. These included St. Pancras Hotel & Railway Station, for the Midland Railway Company in 1864. Sorby was one of eleven invited entrants in the competition for this major project, and he received the 4th Prize of £30.00.

Following the death of Charles Reeves in December 1866 Thomas Sorby succeeded to his position, as surveyor of police buildings in the metropolitan district, and of county courts of England and Wales in early January 1867. This post was abolished, in 1870 and any new commissions given to the Ministry of Works. Sorby received few new commissions in the period 1872-1882. As a result, he emigrated to Canada in 1883, practising initially in Montreal and Vancouver before moving to Victoria, British Columbia.

Thomas Charles Sorby married Elizabeth Sorby (relation?) in 1857 and had at least nine children. He died on 15 November 1924 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Address
1869-1871    27, Brunswick Square, London W.C

Residence
1841        Royston, West Yorkshire (census)
1856        Stanley Street Pimlico (RA)
1858        26 Wellington Street Upper Street Islington (RA)
1859        42 Florence Street Upper Street London North (Builder)
1864        42 Florence Street Upper Street London North (RA)
1881        Penge Surrey (census)
1883        Montreal Canada
1886        Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
1888        Victoria, British Columbia  Canada