Thomas Carling black plaque

This black commemorative plaque records: Thomas Carling (1797 - 1880) Thomas Carling, youngest child of William and Margaret, was born and raised in Etton, Yorkshire. He emigrated alone to Canada in 1818, settling near London, Ontario. He married there in 1820 to Margaret Routledge (1786 – 1871) of Cumberland, England. They had five sons, William, Thomas, Isaac, Allan and John, who was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1893 for his contributions to Canada, as both politician and Federal Cabinet Minister. About 1843, Thomas began brewing beer in London using his father’s Yorkshire recipe. The Carling Brewing and Malting Company expanded throughout Canada and the U.S.A. and remained in the family for nearly 100 years. Dedicated by Carling family members in Canada, 25 June, 2000

Thomas Carling was a British-Canadian brewer who founded the Carling Brewing Company in London, Ontario, which became one of the largest brewing companies in North America and remained influential for nearly a century. His son, John Carling, also gained prominence as a Canadian politician and was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1893.