Apcar family
Encyclopedia
For more than a century the Apcar family was prominent in commerce and industry in India
.
Aratoon Apcar (born New Julfa
Persia 1779 died Kolkata
16 May 1863) was the founder of Apcar & Co in 1809 and Senior Member until his death, 54 years later. He came to India in 1795, first to Mumbai
and then to Kolkata in 1830. He endowed the Armenian Apostolic Church
of St Mary at New Julfa, and established the Armenian Patriotic School there. He had four sons, Seth, Thomas, Apcar and Alexander, all of whom were involved in the family business. Seth Apcar (born Mumbai 12 May 1819 died London
March 1885) was the first Armenian Sheriff of Kolkata
. He was awarded the Order of the Lion and the Sun
by the Shah of Iran, which was presented to him by the Governor-General
of India. As a London resident in the 1870s, he was Honorary President of an Armenian committee set up to increase British awareness of the plight of Armenians during the decline of the Ottoman Empire
. Alexander Apcar (born Mumbai 4 November 1824 died Kolkata 12 November 1895) was the Consul for Siam (Thailand) in Kolkata until his death. Alexander’s son was Apcar Alexander Apcar (see below).
Arratoon Apcar's younger brother, Gregory Apcar (born New Julfa
1795 died Mumbai 23 June 1847) came to India in 1808. He was noted for his charitable work, particularly to the Armenian Apostolic Church
and Armenian College
. On 6 January 1827 he married Catchkathoon Sarkies in Mumbai. Their son Aratoon Gregory Apcar was born 4 November 1827 and died on 1 February 1916. His son, John Gregory Apcar (born 1849 died London, 28 October 1923), known as "Father John", was elected a member of the Bengal Legislative Council at the 1912-13 Bengal
general election
as one of two representatives for the Calcutta Corporation
. He was also Clerk of the Crown and a municipal commissioner. He was admitted to the Inner Temple
in 1871. He was educated at Harrow School
, as was another son Gregory Apcar (born London 1848? died London, 17 May 1935). Both were benefactors of that school. Described in 1936 by Harrow's Governors as "an endowment which has never been equaled in the School's history" and "a shining example of love and care for Harrow", Gregory Apcar left the School an estate valued at around £320,000, which increased the value of the School's property and Trusts by almost two-thirds.
The most recent Apcars from the Armenian bloodline are Peter Apcar and his two sons (Joshua and Samuel) and his sister, Mary Ann Apcar and her daughter (Grace), all of whom live in the London area.
The Apcar Line ran a fleet of five vessels from Kolkata carrying Chinese coolies and cargo, largely to and from Singapore
, Hong Kong
and Amoy
(Xiamen), with connections to Japan
. Pirates were active, and well into the twentieth century, the ships had to be armed and sandbagged against attacks.
Apcar & Co also entered the coal
business. In 1862 coal seams were discovered near Raniganj
and Asansol
. Apcar & Co purchased an extensive stretch of land and started a mine at Lachipur (4 miles from Asansol). They also opened coal mines at Charanpur, Faridpur
and Borachuck. A large number of Armenians either owned collieries or worked in various capacities in the coalfields. Seeing the rapid development of the coalfields, European firms purchased large areas from Apcar & Co on a royalty basis and started to mine the coal. As a result Asansol became a large and developed mining district.
On 27 February 1912 Apcar & Co, ships, workshops and mines, were sold to the British India Steam Navigation Company for Rs 800,000 and absorbed by BISN. Sailings from Kolkata to Japan were still advertised as being conducted by the Apcar Line into the 1950s. The coal mines were managed by Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Co until 1951.
(born Kolkata 3 October 1850, died at Bangalore
17 April 1913) was a prominent Armenian
businessman in Kolkata
, and head of Apcar & Co.
After going to Harrow School
, he returned to Kolkata in the early 1870s, never again visiting Europe. He was a keen cricketer, and rackets player. He was president of the Calcutta Turf Club. He kept a fine stud, recruited from a breeding farm he owned in Australia. His stud was "summered" at Bangalore, where he spent a good part of the hot weather season.
Sir Alexander (as he was known) took a prominent part in the work of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce
, of which he was vice-president in 1903 and president from 1904-1907. He represented the Chamber on the Bengal Legislative Council, and on the Supreme Legislature from 1900-1909, and for many years he was one of its representatives on the Kolkata Port Trust. Sir Alexander succeed as the Consul for Siam in Kolkata on his father’s death in 1895. He was created a CSI in 1903, and was advanced to knighthood of the Order on the occasion of the Coronation Durbar
at Delhi later that year.
He was unmarried. The Times Obituary stated that the death of Sir Alexander, “removes one of the best known and most popular of the merchant princes of Calcutta.”
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Aratoon Apcar (born New Julfa
New Julfa
New Julfa is the Armenian quarter of Isfahan, Iran, located along the south bank of the river Zayandeh River....
Persia 1779 died Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
16 May 1863) was the founder of Apcar & Co in 1809 and Senior Member until his death, 54 years later. He came to India in 1795, first to Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
and then to Kolkata in 1830. He endowed the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
of St Mary at New Julfa, and established the Armenian Patriotic School there. He had four sons, Seth, Thomas, Apcar and Alexander, all of whom were involved in the family business. Seth Apcar (born Mumbai 12 May 1819 died London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
March 1885) was the first Armenian Sheriff of Kolkata
Sheriff of Kolkata
The Sheriff of Kolkata is an apolitical titular position of authority bestowed for one year on a prominent citizen of Kolkata. The Sheriff has an office and staff but does not have executive powers. In the order of precedence, the Sheriff ranks just below the Mayor...
. He was awarded the Order of the Lion and the Sun
Order of the Lion and the Sun
The Order of the Lion and the Sun was instituted by Fat’h Ali Shah of the Qajar Dynasty in 1808 to honour foreign officials who had rendered distinguished services to Persia. In 1925, under the Pahlavi dynasty the Order continued as the Order of Homayoun with new insignia, though based on the...
by the Shah of Iran, which was presented to him by the Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
of India. As a London resident in the 1870s, he was Honorary President of an Armenian committee set up to increase British awareness of the plight of Armenians during the decline of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. Alexander Apcar (born Mumbai 4 November 1824 died Kolkata 12 November 1895) was the Consul for Siam (Thailand) in Kolkata until his death. Alexander’s son was Apcar Alexander Apcar (see below).
Arratoon Apcar's younger brother, Gregory Apcar (born New Julfa
New Julfa
New Julfa is the Armenian quarter of Isfahan, Iran, located along the south bank of the river Zayandeh River....
1795 died Mumbai 23 June 1847) came to India in 1808. He was noted for his charitable work, particularly to the Armenian Apostolic Church
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church is the world's oldest National Church, is part of Oriental Orthodoxy, and is one of the most ancient Christian communities. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, in establishing this church...
and Armenian College
Armenian College (Kolkata)
The "Armenian College and Philantrophic Academy " of Kolkata is the commonly known and called "Armenian College, Calcutta". The Institution was founded by members of the Calcutta Armenian Community primarily to educate their own children. The "Armenian College" has played a distinguished and...
. On 6 January 1827 he married Catchkathoon Sarkies in Mumbai. Their son Aratoon Gregory Apcar was born 4 November 1827 and died on 1 February 1916. His son, John Gregory Apcar (born 1849 died London, 28 October 1923), known as "Father John", was elected a member of the Bengal Legislative Council at the 1912-13 Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
as one of two representatives for the Calcutta Corporation
Kolkata Municipal Corporation
Kolkata Municipal Corporation is responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of the city of Kolkata. The organization is known, in short, as KMC . This civic administrative body administers an area of 185 sq. km. Its motto, Purosree Bibardhan, is inscribed on its emblem in Bengali...
. He was also Clerk of the Crown and a municipal commissioner. He was admitted to the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1871. He was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, as was another son Gregory Apcar (born London 1848? died London, 17 May 1935). Both were benefactors of that school. Described in 1936 by Harrow's Governors as "an endowment which has never been equaled in the School's history" and "a shining example of love and care for Harrow", Gregory Apcar left the School an estate valued at around £320,000, which increased the value of the School's property and Trusts by almost two-thirds.
The most recent Apcars from the Armenian bloodline are Peter Apcar and his two sons (Joshua and Samuel) and his sister, Mary Ann Apcar and her daughter (Grace), all of whom live in the London area.
Apcar & Co and the Apcar Line
Apcar & Co acted as general business agents and insurance brokers and controlled the Apcar Line.The Apcar Line ran a fleet of five vessels from Kolkata carrying Chinese coolies and cargo, largely to and from Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Amoy
Amoy
Xiamen, or Amoy, is a city on the southeast coast of China.Amoy may also refer to:*Amoy dialect, a dialect of the Hokkien lects, which are part of the Southern Min group of Chinese languages...
(Xiamen), with connections to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Pirates were active, and well into the twentieth century, the ships had to be armed and sandbagged against attacks.
Apcar & Co also entered the coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
business. In 1862 coal seams were discovered near Raniganj
Raniganj
Raniganj is a city and a municipality in Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Geography:Raniganj is located at . It has an average elevation of 91 metres ....
and Asansol
Asansol
Asansol is a coal mining and industrial metropolis and one of the busiest commercial centres in India. It is the second largest city and urban agglomeration in West Bengal after Kolkata and the 19th largest urban agglomeration in India. Asansol is located in the western part of the Burdwan...
. Apcar & Co purchased an extensive stretch of land and started a mine at Lachipur (4 miles from Asansol). They also opened coal mines at Charanpur, Faridpur
Faridpur, India
Faridpur is a town and a nagar panchayat in Bareilly district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. In the age of British Rule Ram Kumar Agrawal was the Jameendar and collector of this town. Presently Faridpur is famous for Jari work, Sarrafa .-Geography:Faridpur is located at...
and Borachuck. A large number of Armenians either owned collieries or worked in various capacities in the coalfields. Seeing the rapid development of the coalfields, European firms purchased large areas from Apcar & Co on a royalty basis and started to mine the coal. As a result Asansol became a large and developed mining district.
On 27 February 1912 Apcar & Co, ships, workshops and mines, were sold to the British India Steam Navigation Company for Rs 800,000 and absorbed by BISN. Sailings from Kolkata to Japan were still advertised as being conducted by the Apcar Line into the 1950s. The coal mines were managed by Mackinnon, Mackenzie & Co until 1951.
Apcar Alexander Apcar
Sir Apcar Alexander Apcar, KCSIOrder of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
(born Kolkata 3 October 1850, died at Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
17 April 1913) was a prominent Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
businessman in Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, and head of Apcar & Co.
After going to Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, he returned to Kolkata in the early 1870s, never again visiting Europe. He was a keen cricketer, and rackets player. He was president of the Calcutta Turf Club. He kept a fine stud, recruited from a breeding farm he owned in Australia. His stud was "summered" at Bangalore, where he spent a good part of the hot weather season.
Sir Alexander (as he was known) took a prominent part in the work of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, of which he was vice-president in 1903 and president from 1904-1907. He represented the Chamber on the Bengal Legislative Council, and on the Supreme Legislature from 1900-1909, and for many years he was one of its representatives on the Kolkata Port Trust. Sir Alexander succeed as the Consul for Siam in Kolkata on his father’s death in 1895. He was created a CSI in 1903, and was advanced to knighthood of the Order on the occasion of the Coronation Durbar
Durbar
Durbar is a Persian term meaning the Shah's noble court. It was later used in India and Nepal for a ruler's court or feudal levy as the latter came to be ruled and later administered by Persians and Perso-Turcomen rulers...
at Delhi later that year.
He was unmarried. The Times Obituary stated that the death of Sir Alexander, “removes one of the best known and most popular of the merchant princes of Calcutta.”