Thomas Doherty (1843–1916) was an influential inventor, entrepreneur, and public servant whose contributions to Lambton County left a legacy. Born in Lanark County, Canada West, Thomas was the youngest child of James and Rachal (Garrett) Doherty. His grandfather, a British half-pay officer from Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England, immigrated to Canada after his military service. In the late 1830s, Thomas’s father James married Rachal Garrett, and together they had three children: William, Annie, and Thomas.
In 1849, the family relocated to Uttoxeter in Plympton Township, Lambton County. At age 14, following the death of his father, Thomas’s formal education ended.
In 1864, Thomas married Elizabeth Brown and began his lifelong dedication to agriculture and innovation. He became an active participant in the Canadian Grange Movement, advocating for fair treatment of farmers. In 1874, he wrote that farmers deserved associations just as tradespeople and professionals did. His passion for practical invention and community improvement would define his life.
In 1874, he wrote "I can not see why the farmer shall not have an association as well as the mechanic, the merchant, and the professional man."
Thomas began his career by fixing farm machinery and blacksmithing. It’s believed he built his first thresher in his shop in Plympton. In 1875, when the Village of Watford offered land to anyone establishing a foundry, Doherty moved and founded the Watford Agricultural Implement Works. His enterprise thrived by offering a full line of farm implements, ensuring repair services, and backing his equipment with satisfaction guarantees. Customer testimonials drove his growing reputation.
In 1881, Doherty expanded his business by founding The Doherty Manufacturing Company in Sarnia, specializing in stove production. Located at Queen and Wellington streets, the company became a major employer, producing 3,000 stoves annually by 1913. He held numerous patents, including for the “Doherty Process,” which created a type of cast iron as strong as steel, and for “DeCarbon Steel,” a refined, impurity-free steel that improved durability.
Doherty’s first patent, in 1881, was for improvements to threshing machines. Its unveiling earned $4,000 in orders. As central heating became more sought after in the 1890s, he patented an efficient boiler system that earned a gold medal from the Parisian Inventors Academy. Uninterested in salesmen, he sold directly to consumers, enhancing the appeal of his stoves with decorative tiles, nickel accents, and creative names.
An inventive mind, he also built engines, including a marine engine and a two-piston gasoline engine. In 1895, he constructed Sarnia’s first automobile from bicycle parts, followed by a larger model. Though novel, his cars were not popular and were even banned from roads for frightening horses.
Doherty also worked to improve public infrastructure. He invented a water filtration system implemented in Sarnia’s new waterworks, completed posthumously. He held patents not only in Canada but also in the U.S., England, and Europe, making his fortune from global patent sales.
Civically engaged, he served as councillor in Watford, alderman and later mayor in Sarnia, and held positions on several boards and clubs. His time as mayor was cut short when he died suddenly after a speech in 1916. His passing marked the loss of one of Lambton County’s greatest industrial pioneers.
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