High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! John Tomlinson Brunner was born in Everton, Liverpool, the fourth child and second son of John Brunner, a Swiss Unitarian and schoolmaster, and Margaret Catherine Curphey, who originated from the Isle of Man, daughter of Thomas Curphey and wife Margaret Leece. His father established a school in Netherfield Road, Everton, known as St George's House, to teach children along the lines advocated by Pestalozzi. Brunner's mother died in 1847, when he was aged five; his father married Nancy Inman in 1851. She had a shrewd business sense and Brunner gave credit to her for teaching him skills in practical matters.Brunner was educated at his father's school and then, at the age of 15, he decided to follow a career in commerce.