Sir Edward Thomason, the illustrious Birmingham manufacturer of buttons, jewellery and medals. Apprenticed to Matthew Boulton, he opened his own factory in 1790 in Church Street, Birmingham. In 1793, when his father retired, he took over the business which he extended to make gilt articles, medals and tokens, for which he became famous. He died aged 80 on the 29th May 1849 at his residence in Warwick. He was an eminent medallist and manufacturer of bronzes at Birmingham, and received a knighthood in 1832 for being instrumental in improving the Arts and Manufactures. He also solicited and received ‘honours’ from Prussia, the Netherlands, Spain, Persia, etc.. and acted for upwards of twenty years as vice-consul for various European countries. He employed the best engravers of his day and was responsible for the production of many of the 19th century tokens held by the museum.