Thomas Norris FRAS (14 January 1765 – 15 March 1852) was an English businessman, art collector, natural historian and astronomer, born at Croston in Lancashire.

Joining the Bury firm of Peel, Yates and Co. as a book-keeper at the age of twenty, he eventually became a partner and amassed a considerable fortune from its success in the textile and calico-printing businesses.

[1] Upon his retirement to Howick House, Penwortham, in 1821, Norris purchased[2] one half of the Lordship of Croston, and dedicated the remainder of his life to artistic and scientific pursuits.

[1] The importance to science of Norris's cabinet of curiosities was acknowledged by leading naturalists of the day, including G.B.

Guérin-Méneville, who between them named various mollusc and insect species in his honour;[5][6][7][8][9] although a number of these designations have since been deprecated,[10][11] at least seven remain current: the sea snails Norrisia norrisii (a.k.a.