Benjamin Bowring
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Bowring was an English
-Canadian
watchmaker
, jeweller
, and businessman
. He was the founder, in 1811, of the Bowring trading, shipping and insurance businesses, later known as Bowring Brothers
in Canada
and the United States
, and C.T. Bowring & Co. in the United Kingdom
and elsewhere.
to Nathaniel and Susannah Bowring. He came from a family that had been involved for over two centuries in the woollen industry. His first cousin, John Bowring
, was the 4th Governor of Hong Kong
. His father died when he was three years old, and his mother then moved the family to her hometown of Moretonhampstead
, where Benjamin spent his formative years. After his education was completed, he apprenticed to watchmaker Charles Price, whose daughter Charlotte he later married. On October 6, 1803, three days before his marriage, he opened his own watch-making shop in Exeter.
, and made several trips there during the next few years. He became one of the port's permanent residents in 1815, and the following spring his wife and family joined him. His wife opened a small dry goods
store attached to his watch-making shop. Her business venture proved successful and Bowring decided to abandon watch-making to concentrate on what was a growing retail trade. In 1823 he purchased two schooner
s to transport goods from England and return with Newfoundland cod and seal products. He renamed his firm Benjamin Bowring and Son the following year when his eldest son, William, became a partner. William drowned four years later.
In 1833, he provided for a compulsory fire brigade in St. John's
. This new attempt at fire protection proved no help when Bowring's premises and much of the south side of Water Street
were burnt on July 7, 1833.
The following year he gave control of the firm to his son, Charles Tricks Bowring, and, with the rest of his family, returned to England. In 1835 he set up a trading company, known as Benjamin Bowring, in Liverpool
. Bowring remained in regular contact with his son, offering advice and examining the accounts of the firm. The company underwent substantial expansion during the 1830s and it entered the front ranks of the Water Street mercantile establishments. In 1839 the name of the latter firm was changed to Bowring Brothers
when Charles' brother Henry became his partner. Two years later they were joined by a third brother, Edward.
He died on June 1, 1846 in Liverpool. After his death, the company expanded its insurance business and obtained substanctial interests in metals, coffee, fertilizers, foodstuff, petroleum products, chemicals, and many other commodities. Today Bowring Brothers is a successful chain of upscale gift stores with more than sixty locations across Canada, and also runs a smaller chain of home furnishings outlets. In 1979, the MV Benjamin Bowring was named after him. C.T. Bowring and Co. was bought by Marsh & McLennan Companies
in 1980.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
watchmaker
Watchmaker
A watchmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs watches. Since virtually all watches are now factory made, most modern watchmakers solely repair watches. However, originally they were master craftsmen who built watches, including all their parts, by hand...
, jeweller
Jewellery
Jewellery or jewelry is a form of personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.With some exceptions, such as medical alert bracelets or military dog tags, jewellery normally differs from other items of personal adornment in that it has no other purpose than to...
, and businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
. He was the founder, in 1811, of the Bowring trading, shipping and insurance businesses, later known as Bowring Brothers
Bowring Brothers
Bowring Brothers Limited is currently an operator of retail stores, mostly focused on gifts and home decor, throughout Canada....
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and C.T. Bowring & Co. in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and elsewhere.
Early life
Benjamin Bowring was born in ExeterExeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
to Nathaniel and Susannah Bowring. He came from a family that had been involved for over two centuries in the woollen industry. His first cousin, John Bowring
John Bowring
Sir John Bowring, KCB was an English political economist, traveller, miscellaneous writer, polyglot, and the 4th Governor of Hong Kong.- Early life :...
, was the 4th Governor of Hong Kong
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
. His father died when he was three years old, and his mother then moved the family to her hometown of Moretonhampstead
Moretonhampstead
Moretonhampstead lies on the edge of Dartmoor and is notable for having the longest one-word name of any place in England. The parish church is dedicated to St. Andrew. George Oliver and John Pike Jones , 1828, Exeter: E. Woolmer. Moretonhampstead is twinned with Betton in France.-History:The...
, where Benjamin spent his formative years. After his education was completed, he apprenticed to watchmaker Charles Price, whose daughter Charlotte he later married. On October 6, 1803, three days before his marriage, he opened his own watch-making shop in Exeter.
Career
Looking for new opportunities for his trade, in 1811 Bowring visited NewfoundlandNewfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, and made several trips there during the next few years. He became one of the port's permanent residents in 1815, and the following spring his wife and family joined him. His wife opened a small dry goods
Dry goods
Dry goods are products such as textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, and sundries. In U.S. retailing, a dry goods store carries consumer goods that are distinct from those carried by hardware stores and grocery stores, though "dry goods" as a term for textiles has been dated back to 1742 in England or...
store attached to his watch-making shop. Her business venture proved successful and Bowring decided to abandon watch-making to concentrate on what was a growing retail trade. In 1823 he purchased two schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
s to transport goods from England and return with Newfoundland cod and seal products. He renamed his firm Benjamin Bowring and Son the following year when his eldest son, William, became a partner. William drowned four years later.
In 1833, he provided for a compulsory fire brigade in St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
. This new attempt at fire protection proved no help when Bowring's premises and much of the south side of Water Street
Water Street, St. John's
Water Street is located in downtown St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It was developed in the early 16th century, and is the oldest street in North America. It became a commercial trading outpost for the Basques, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and English...
were burnt on July 7, 1833.
The following year he gave control of the firm to his son, Charles Tricks Bowring, and, with the rest of his family, returned to England. In 1835 he set up a trading company, known as Benjamin Bowring, in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. Bowring remained in regular contact with his son, offering advice and examining the accounts of the firm. The company underwent substantial expansion during the 1830s and it entered the front ranks of the Water Street mercantile establishments. In 1839 the name of the latter firm was changed to Bowring Brothers
Bowring Brothers
Bowring Brothers Limited is currently an operator of retail stores, mostly focused on gifts and home decor, throughout Canada....
when Charles' brother Henry became his partner. Two years later they were joined by a third brother, Edward.
Later life and death
He turned over control of the Liverpool operation in 1841 to Charles. Under Charles the Liverpool firm, renamed C.T. Bowring and Company, became a major international shipping and insurance business, while Bowring Brothers became one of the leading firms in the cod and seal fisheries and in the provision of foodstuffs and manufactured goods to Newfoundlanders.He died on June 1, 1846 in Liverpool. After his death, the company expanded its insurance business and obtained substanctial interests in metals, coffee, fertilizers, foodstuff, petroleum products, chemicals, and many other commodities. Today Bowring Brothers is a successful chain of upscale gift stores with more than sixty locations across Canada, and also runs a smaller chain of home furnishings outlets. In 1979, the MV Benjamin Bowring was named after him. C.T. Bowring and Co. was bought by Marsh & McLennan Companies
Marsh & McLennan Companies
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. is a US-based global professional services and insurance brokerage firm. In 2007, it had over 57,000 employees and annual revenues of $10.49 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies was ranked the 221st largest corporation in the United States by the 2009 Fortune 500...
in 1980.