Augustine Heard & Co.: Difference between revisions
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Augustine Heard and Co. was founded in 1840, in Canton, China by [[Ipswich, Massachusetts|Ipswich, MA]] businessman, traveller, trader and former [[Russell & Co.]] partner [[Augustine Heard]], and his partners, Joseph Coolidge and [[John Murray Forbes]]. Throughout its history, it was run in large part by Heard family members, most notably Heard's four nephews from his brother George Washington Heard: John, Augustine, [[Albert Heard|Albert Farley]] and George Washington Jr. |
Augustine Heard and Co. was founded in 1840, in Canton, China by [[Ipswich, Massachusetts|Ipswich, MA]] businessman, traveller, trader and former [[Russell & Co.]] partner [[Augustine Heard]], and his partners, Joseph Coolidge and [[John Murray Forbes]]. Throughout its history, it was run in large part by Heard family members, most notably Heard's four nephews from his brother George Washington Heard: John, Augustine, [[Albert Heard|Albert Farley]] and George Washington Jr. |
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In 1841, Augustine Heard, who had previously lived in China but had returned for health reasons to Ipswich, returned to China to head the firm until 1844. There, business flourished, notably because of the use of fast [[clipper]] ships and the import of [[steamships]]. Tea, one of the main [[commodity|commodities]] traded, did not provide much profit compared to opium, which enabled the firm's finances to soar, Augustine Heard & Co. becoming the third largest American firm in China in the mid-nineteenth century. The firm also introduced steamships to China, and imported them through its sister firm in the U.S. The firm also became the main trading agent for several large firms, including Liverpool firm [[John Swire & Sons Limited]]. in 1861.<ref name="swire"> |
In 1841, Augustine Heard, who had previously lived in China but had returned for health reasons to Ipswich, returned to China to head the firm until 1844. There, business flourished, notably because of the use of fast [[clipper]] ships and the import of [[steamships]]. Tea, one of the main [[commodity|commodities]] traded, did not provide much profit compared to opium, which enabled the firm's finances to soar, Augustine Heard & Co. becoming the third largest American firm in China in the mid-nineteenth century. The firm also introduced steamships to China, and imported them through its sister firm in the U.S. The firm also became the main trading agent for several large firms, including Liverpool firm [[John Swire & Sons Limited]]. in 1861.<ref name="swire">{{cite web | title = Swire Pacific Company History | url=http://www.swirepacific.com/eng/about/history.htm | accessdate = 2007-08-07 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070524000538/http://www.swirepacific.com/eng/about/history.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-05-24}}</ref> |
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In 1844, Heard began travelling extensively, and handed control over the firm to his partners. Among Heard's partners, his four nephews we most active and ably directed the firm. John Heard led the firm until his departure in 1852; Augustine Heard II then took over the leadership of the firm and became the first Westerner permitted to trade in Siam in 1855. When his brother John returned to take the leadership again, the younger Augustine became the firm's representative to Europe. Albert Farley later took over the firm and, finally, George Washington Jr. who remained in China until the firm's collapse.<ref name="ipswich"> |
In 1844, Heard began travelling extensively, and handed control over the firm to his partners. Among Heard's partners, his four nephews we most active and ably directed the firm. John Heard led the firm until his departure in 1852; Augustine Heard II then took over the leadership of the firm and became the first Westerner permitted to trade in Siam in 1855. When his brother John returned to take the leadership again, the younger Augustine became the firm's representative to Europe. Albert Farley later took over the firm and, finally, George Washington Jr. who remained in China until the firm's collapse.<ref name="ipswich">{{cite web | title = Ipswich Historical Society and Museums: Personalities | url=http://www.ipswichmuseum.org/personalities.php | accessdate = 2007-08-07 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071010060859/http://www.ipswichmuseum.org/personalities.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-10-10}}</ref> |
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The firm prospered until the 1870s when, just like its rivals, it encountered financial difficulties, and finally went bankrupt in 1875.{{ |
The firm prospered until the 1870s when, just like its rivals, it encountered financial difficulties, and finally went bankrupt in 1875.{{citation needed|date=December 2011}} |
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== United States == |
== United States == |
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A sister company bearing the same name operated between April 13, 1861 and April 9, 1865 in the business of "buying and shipping steamers for China, receiving merchandise from China, and selling the same, and insuring merchandise and vessels."<ref name="supreme"> |
A sister company bearing the same name operated between April 13, 1861 and April 9, 1865 in the business of "buying and shipping steamers for China, receiving merchandise from China, and selling the same, and insuring merchandise and vessels."<ref name="supreme">{{cite web | title = U.S. Supreme Court WILLIAMS v. HEARD, 140 U.S. 529 (1891) | url=http://supreme.justia.com/us/140/529/case.html | accessdate = 2007-08-07 }}</ref> |
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== Notable partners == |
== Notable partners == |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.pem.org/library/catalog The Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum] The Phillips Library holds several manuscript collections of Augustine Heard and Company and various family members. |
*[http://www.pem.org/library/catalog The Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum] The Phillips Library holds several manuscript collections of Augustine Heard and Company and various family members. |
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* [http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HBS.Baker.EAD:bak00162 Heard Family Business Records at Baker Library Historical Collections, Harvard Business School] |
* [http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HBS.Baker.EAD:bak00162 Heard Family Business Records at Baker Library Historical Collections, Harvard Business School] |
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{{Foreign trade in Imperial China| state = collapsed}} |
{{Foreign trade in Imperial China| state = collapsed}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Augustine Heard and Co.}} |
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[[Category:British Hong Kong]] |
[[Category:British Hong Kong]] |
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[[Category:Companies established in 1840]] |
[[Category:Companies established in 1840]] |
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Revision as of 12:29, 10 June 2014
Augustine Heard & Co. (Chinese: 瓊記洋行; pinyin: Qióngjì Yángháng) was a major nineteenth-century American trading firm in Qing dynasty China whose operations consisted in importing and exporting a large array of goods, including tea and opium.
History and leadership
Augustine Heard and Co. was founded in 1840, in Canton, China by Ipswich, MA businessman, traveller, trader and former Russell & Co. partner Augustine Heard, and his partners, Joseph Coolidge and John Murray Forbes. Throughout its history, it was run in large part by Heard family members, most notably Heard's four nephews from his brother George Washington Heard: John, Augustine, Albert Farley and George Washington Jr.
In 1841, Augustine Heard, who had previously lived in China but had returned for health reasons to Ipswich, returned to China to head the firm until 1844. There, business flourished, notably because of the use of fast clipper ships and the import of steamships. Tea, one of the main commodities traded, did not provide much profit compared to opium, which enabled the firm's finances to soar, Augustine Heard & Co. becoming the third largest American firm in China in the mid-nineteenth century. The firm also introduced steamships to China, and imported them through its sister firm in the U.S. The firm also became the main trading agent for several large firms, including Liverpool firm John Swire & Sons Limited. in 1861.[1]
In 1844, Heard began travelling extensively, and handed control over the firm to his partners. Among Heard's partners, his four nephews we most active and ably directed the firm. John Heard led the firm until his departure in 1852; Augustine Heard II then took over the leadership of the firm and became the first Westerner permitted to trade in Siam in 1855. When his brother John returned to take the leadership again, the younger Augustine became the firm's representative to Europe. Albert Farley later took over the firm and, finally, George Washington Jr. who remained in China until the firm's collapse.[2]
The firm prospered until the 1870s when, just like its rivals, it encountered financial difficulties, and finally went bankrupt in 1875.[citation needed]
United States
A sister company bearing the same name operated between April 13, 1861 and April 9, 1865 in the business of "buying and shipping steamers for China, receiving merchandise from China, and selling the same, and insuring merchandise and vessels."[3]
Notable partners
- Joseph Coolidge, trader
- George B. Dixwell, New England merchant
- John Murray Forbes, American railroad magnate
- Augustine Heard, founder
- Augustine Heard II, later U.S. Minister to Korea
- John Heard
- Albert Farley Heard
- George Washington Jr.
References
- ^ "Swire Pacific Company History". Archived from the original on 2007-05-24. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
- ^ "Ipswich Historical Society and Museums: Personalities". Archived from the original on 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
- ^ "U.S. Supreme Court WILLIAMS v. HEARD, 140 U.S. 529 (1891)". Retrieved 2007-08-07.
External links
- The Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum The Phillips Library holds several manuscript collections of Augustine Heard and Company and various family members.
- Heard Family Business Records at Baker Library Historical Collections, Harvard Business School