 Thomas Scott Turnbull, the son of saddler John Turnbull, was born in Newcastle on October 28, 1825.After being educated at St Mary's School, Newcastle, he went to work for ""Dunn and Bainbridge"" - then the largest drapery firm in Newcastle.Turnbull soon rose to a "high position", later gaining further experience of the trade by working in several large commercial houses in London, before moving to Sunderland in 1850 and starting his own business.