1808

Thomas Cook is born on 22 November in Melbourne, Derbyshire. He is the son of a labourer and the grandson of a Baptist minister.

1828

On the completion of his apprenticeship as a wood-turner and cabinet-maker, Thomas decides instead to pursue his religious interests and becomes a wandering Baptist missionary.

1841

Thomas conducts his first excursion, a 12-mile rail journey from Leicester to a temperance gala in Loughborough, on Monday 5 July 1841. Some 500 passengers pay a shilling each for the experience. The day is a great success and Thomas is soon being asked to organise similar outings for other local temperance societies and Sunday schools.

1845

Thomas conducts his first trip for profit. It is a railway journey to Liverpool from Leicester, Nottingham and Derby.

1855

Thomas successfully escorts his first ‘package tourists’ to Europe during the summer of 1855. The ‘grand circular tour’ includes Brussels, Cologne, the Rhine, Heidelberg, Strasbourg and Paris. Thomas arranges hotels and meals in addition to travel tickets. He also deals with ‘foreign exchange’ for his customers.

1865

To cope with the number of tourists who wish to visit the Continent, Thomas opens an office in London – at 98 Fleet Street – in April 1865. This is Thomas Cook’s first high street shop and it is to be managed by his son, John Mason Cook, who joined the family business only a few months before.

1872/73

The climax of Thomas’ travelling career comes in September 1872 when, at the age of 63, he departs from Liverpool (with eight companions) on a 25,000-mile tour of the world that will keep him away from home for 222 days. It has long been his ambition to travel to ‘Egypt via China’ but such a trip only becomes practicable following the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869.

1874

Cook’s circular note, an early form of the travellers cheque, is launched in New York.

1892

John Mason Cook takes over the business on the death of his father.