Lipton, Thomas Johnstone, Sir, 1850-1931

Thomas Lipton checks the pulse of an animated feminine America’s Cup labeled “America 1851.” Caption: Dr. Lipton – Your condition, of course, is not alarming; but a trip abroad would do you a world of good.

comments and context

Comments and Context

In 1903, Sir Thomas Lipton dreamed yet again of capturing the America’s Cup. The 1902 competition, in New York Harbor, had attracted major attention — three constituent races; the United States’s entry of bold new design; J. P. Morgan’s recent interest as an owner and fan… and Lipton’s British entry defeated, not even finishing.

An American yachtsman shakes hands with Thomas Johnstone Lipton, with the America’s Cup between them. Caption: The American Sportsman — If we can not keep both, we would rather lose the cup than lose you, Sir Thomas.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Sir Thomas Lipton, a Scotsman of Irish parentage, was an entrepreneurial whirlwind, with a product line of teas, grocery stores, and racing yachts his primary interests. He frequently entered his yachts in America’s Cup races, never to win, but he endeared himself to the American public. In 1903 his entry was named The Shamrock, hence the design of his vest. The “American Sportsman” in Keppler’s cartoon appears to be a generic fellow.

Thomas Johnstone Lipton beats a hand-drum labeled “American Progress,” trying to wake John Bull who is sound asleep in a chair. Caption: “There is no more loyal Britisher than myself; but I can’t close my eyes to one thing, and that is we are a decaying nation, commercially, as compared to your country, and the United States is the greatest country on the face of the earth to-day.”–Speech of Sir Thomas Lipton.

comments and context

Comments and Context

The jovial entrepreneur Sir Thomas Lipton was a Scots-Irish celebrity famous for his lines of teas, his chains of grocery stores, and his love of yachting. He regularly entered his yachts in the America’s Cup contests — never winning — but even in defeat his admiration of and affection for the United States was evident to all.

Uncle Sam stands with a chip on his shoulder labeled “Championship” and clutches to his chest the “America’s Cup.” A small yacht is at his feet, in the foreground, with a list of the years the United States has won the Cup. Thomas Johnstone Lipton is standing behind Uncle Sam, on a slip of land labeled “England.” He is trying to knock the chip off Uncle Sam’s shoulder with a long staff labeled “Challenge.” Caption: The Champion. — You’ll always find the chip there, my boy!

comments and context

Comments and Context

Sir Thomas Lipton, an Irishman of Scottish birth, was a commoner who rose to knighthood by establishing a grocery empire, a brand of tea with worldwide reach, and competing as a yachtsman, most notably in America’s Cup events. Although his name is associated with America’s Cup, he competed in only five between 1899 and 1930 and never won. Yet his good-natured personality attracted attention to the sport that was dominated by the United States.

President and Mrs. Roosevelt with Secretary of the Navy William H. Moody, Thomas Lipton, Admiral George Dewey, C. Oliver Iselin, and Major General Adna Romanza Chaffee on the deck of the Mayflower off Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York. The back of the stereograph gives an in-depth explanation of the circumstances of the photograph.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1903-08-17

President Roosevelt says that the enclosed letter from Henry C. Burdett is from a “prize fool,” and he has no recollection of him. He feels badly that there does not seem to be anything that can be done for the author Ellen Velvin. He would like Robert Bridges to look into the matter to see if she is truly being “fleeced” by a certain publishing firm.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-09

President Roosevelt looks forward to seeing Senator Kearns and Jennie Judge Kearns at lunch on Wednesday. Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton will be unable to join them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-14

President Roosevelt would be pleased to have C. Oliver Iselin join him during the naval review.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-06

Whitelaw Reid updates President Roosevelt on diplomatic affairs in London. Reid has spoken with several British authorities regarding Roosevelt’s upcoming African safari. The Japanese Ambassador to Great Britain, Jutarō Komura, met with Reid at a luncheon given for members of the Olympic committee and emphasized that he and the Japanese Emperor recognized the United States as a friend. The Chinese Ambassador held a dinner and expressed friendly regard toward the United States. Reid provides a detailed description of two controversial Olympic races in London: in the 400 meter race, an American was disqualified for breaking the rules, and in the marathon, the Italian winner was disqualified in favor of an American. Reid notes that the American athletes, while somewhat justified in their frustrations, were seen by the British press as ill-mannered. Finally, Reid says he doubts that Roosevelt can make private visits to Paris and London on his way back from Africa without giving offense to government officials who would expect a state visit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-11

Ambassador Reid sends Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt descriptions of social events and diplomatic gossip from Great Britain. In a handwritten postscript, Reid says his wife and daughter are going to see her sick father in the Adirondacks and he will be alone by the end of summer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-25

Photograph showing President Theodore Roosevelt, seated center, Secretary of the Navy William H. Moody, left, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, right; standing Sir Thomas Johnston Lipton, Admiral George Dewey, C. Oliver Iselin, and General Adna R. Chaffee on the deck of the Mayflower off Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1903

T. St. John Gaffney complains about the over-the-top reception Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton received at West Point.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-14

Thomas St. John Gaffney, recently returned from England, writes to William Loeb to express his support for President Roosevelt’s handling of the “Lipton matter” and his frustration of the efforts made to appease Sir Thomas Lipton’s supposedly slighted honor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-09-14

Newspaper reporter Duncan Curry writes to Roosevelt to respectfully express his feelings of uneasiness regarding how Major General Henry Corbin communicated a personal invitation from the President to Sir Thomas Lipton.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06-26