Robert Lucas Chance

In 1822 he purchased the British Crown Glass Company, following the death of the owner, Thomas Shutt, for £24,000 (equivalent to £2,579,000 in 2023).

After experiencing financial difficulties in 1832, Lucas was then saved by his brother, William, who also became a partner, temporarily taking over the lease.

The partnership with Hartley's sons, James and John Jnr, in 1834 was dissolved in 1836 due to many differences of opinion and the business was then named Chance Brothers & Company.

In 1851, Chance Brothers supplied the glass to glaze the Crystal Palace, which was probably partly due to Chance's previous links with Joseph Paxton, the architect, when supplying glass for the greenhouses at Chatsworth House.

The two brothers were noted as being very philanthropic, founding a school (1845), a library and a church, all primarily for the workforce.