was a British-born financial writer, publisher, and businessman who became a Director of the Canadian Pacific Railway and of the Hudson's Bay Company.
[8][9] In November 1880, Skinner replaced Edwin Utley as the chief editor and publisher of The London Banks, and Kindred Companies and Firms.
"[7] Sir Thomas Skinner later took over a semi-annual publication established in 1844-45 titled the Bankers' Almanac in East Grinstead, England.
[15] Now chairman of the Canada North-West Land Company, in April 1883, he served as the founder, chief editor, and publisher of the Canadian Gazette.
[21] On 26 December 1888, a temporary board was created to oversee the migration of crofters and cottars from the Western Highlands and Scottish islands to the Dominion of Canada.
The Crofter Emigration Board was composed of Schomberg Kerr, 9th Marquess of Lothian, the Secretary for Scotland; Sir Charles Tupper, the High Commissioner for the Dominion of Canada in London; Sir John Muir, 1st Baronet, the Lord Provost of Glasgow; and Thomas Skinner of the North-West Land Co.[22] Officially appointed by Queen Victoria in 1891, for many years he served on the Colonization Board, set up to support Canadian colonization.
[24] He was appointed chairman of the board of the Pillsbury-Washburn Flour Mills Co. Ltd. in 1889, following a British financial syndicate's acquisition and merger of Pillsbury with a competitor.
[25][12] Thomas Skinner was appointed a member of the Committee of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) on 29 July 1890 to replace Sir Charles Russell.
[12] Serving from the mid-1890s to the 1920s, he worked on the committee with Alexander Lang and Sir Donald Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, who presided over the bank's board of directors.
[29][30] Recommended to the Canadian Government in 1894 as Peter Redpath's successor on the Imperial Institute's Council, representing the Northwest Territories, he accepted the role at their request.
By this time, he lived at Broughton Lodge, Highgate, worked from 1 Royal Exchange Buildings, E.C., and was affiliated with London's Junior Athenaeum Club.
[32] Following its registration on 1 September 1897, Sir Skinner maintained roles as Trustee and Director of the Direct West India Cable Company Ltd. alongside Lord Strathcona, serving as chairman at its British headquarters on Old Broad Street.
[35] At the end of the 19th century, Skinner was appointed Deputy Governor of Hudson's Bay Company in London, succeeding Earl of Lichfield Sir Donald Smith.
[37] The publication edited by Sir Thomas Skinner issued weekly details of companies formed in Guernsey.
[46] After the death of Sir William Van Horne, he replaced Montreal businessman Charles Hosmer who became vice-president.