George Pyman
Encyclopedia
George Pyman was a British shipping magnate born in Sandsend
, in the Scarborough
district of North Yorkshire
, England
.
, but returned to the sea as a bound apprentice a few years later, on a brig called the Endymion trading with America and in the Baltics.
George rose through the ranks, and by the age of twenty-one he was already a captain. His next step was to purchase part of a brig, and over the next few years he left the sea for good, settled in West Hartlepool
and entered into a partnership with Thomas Scurr as shipbrokers for the local collieries. After Scurr's death he formed his own company, George Pyman and Co. and started to make his mark on the shipping world.
George's major contribution to shipping was in being one of the first to use the iron screw collier ships, which dramatically cut voyage times. Following on from that, his firms built 38 steamers and were established in coal exporting in Newcastle
, Cardiff
and London
. George became then the largest steamship owner on the north-east coast, and was appointed Vice-Consul for Belgium
.
Away from his business, George was one of the driving forces behind the growth of West Hartlepool, being elected a Poor Law
Guardian in 1861, an Improvement Commissioner in 1868, and sitting on the Durham County Bench from 1872. In 1888 he was elected the second Mayor of West Hartlepool, was granted a coat of arms in the 1880s, and was finally made a Freeman of the Borough in 1895.
Sandsend
Sandsend is a small fishing village, near to Whitby in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England. It forms part of the civil parish of Lythe. It is the birthplace of fishing magnate George Pyman. Originally two villages, Sandsend and East Row, but now united Sandsend boasts an excellent...
, in the Scarborough
Scarborough (borough)
Scarborough is a non-metropolitan district and borough of North Yorkshire, England. In addition to the town of Scarborough, it covers a large stretch of the coast of Yorkshire, including Whitby and Filey....
district of North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
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...
.
Biography
George Pyman was the eldest son of James Pyman and Jane Arr. He was only ten when he took the place in the family fishing coble of his uncle John, who had died. At twelve he became an assistant to the store-keeper in LytheLythe
Lythe is a small village, and large civil parish, in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England, situated near WhitbyAccording to the 2001 UK census, Lythe parish had a population of 465....
, but returned to the sea as a bound apprentice a few years later, on a brig called the Endymion trading with America and in the Baltics.
George rose through the ranks, and by the age of twenty-one he was already a captain. His next step was to purchase part of a brig, and over the next few years he left the sea for good, settled in West Hartlepool
West Hartlepool
This article refers to the place; for the Rugby Football Club see West Hartlepool R.F.C.West Hartlepool refers to the western part of the what has since the 1960s been known as the borough of Hartlepool in North East England...
and entered into a partnership with Thomas Scurr as shipbrokers for the local collieries. After Scurr's death he formed his own company, George Pyman and Co. and started to make his mark on the shipping world.
George's major contribution to shipping was in being one of the first to use the iron screw collier ships, which dramatically cut voyage times. Following on from that, his firms built 38 steamers and were established in coal exporting in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and 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...
. George became then the largest steamship owner on the north-east coast, and was appointed Vice-Consul for Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Away from his business, George was one of the driving forces behind the growth of West Hartlepool, being elected a Poor Law
Poor Law
The English Poor Laws were a system of poor relief which existed in England and Wales that developed out of late-medieval and Tudor-era laws before being codified in 1587–98...
Guardian in 1861, an Improvement Commissioner in 1868, and sitting on the Durham County Bench from 1872. In 1888 he was elected the second Mayor of West Hartlepool, was granted a coat of arms in the 1880s, and was finally made a Freeman of the Borough in 1895.