Thomas Richard Humphreys Graham (1871-1932) was born at Cootehill, Cavan, Ireland, the son of William Graham (farmer) and Eliza Jane née Humphrys [sic]. By 1891, he was living in Sheffield at 218 Ecclesall Road with his uncle, William Robert Humphreys (founder of W. R. Humphreys & Co). Thomas Graham described himself in the Census as a ‘cutlery manufacturer’. When Humphreys became a limited company in 1904, Thomas was one of the subscribers and a director.

After his uncle’s death in 1911, he took over the management of the business with another of its directors, Charles Hinchliffe (1871-1932).  In 1931, they wound up W. R. Humphreys & Co.  Both men started their own cutlery enterprises. The stainless knife in the Hawley Collection shows that Graham intended to continue to manufacture table knives. He was based at Arley Street, a road that intersected Denby Street, Sadly, both Graham and Hinchliffe were dead within a year.  Thomas R. H. Graham died at his home (218 Ecclesall Road) on 22 January 1932, aged 59. Obituaries described an individual who took little part in public life, was unmarried, but a keen golfer and motorist (Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 23 January 1932). His funeral was at the General Cemetery. He left effects valued at £3,209 (net personalty £2,766).