Lord Thomas Brassey (11 February 1836–23 February 1918)

British Liberal Party politician, Governor of Victoria and founder of The Naval Annual. Son of the railway contractor Thomas Brassey (1805-1870). He was educated at Rugby School and University College Oxford. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Devonport briefly in 1865, winning the seat at a by-election in June and then losing it again the general election in July. He was returned to Parliament three years later for Hastings at the 1868 general election, holding that seat until he retired from the House of Commons at the 1886 general election. He became Lord of the Admiralty in 1880, and Secretary to the Admiralty in 1884. He was knighted in 1881, and was created Baron Brassey of Bulkeley in 1886. From 1895 to 1900 he was Governor of Victoria, Australia. He was created Earl Brassey in 1911. Brassey died in London on 23 February 1918.