Hugh Barton
Encyclopedia
Sir Hugh David MacEwen Barton (17 January 1911 - 1989) was a former Chairman and Managing Director of Jardine, Matheson & Co.
from 1953 to 1963.
Barton was born in Ireland
on 17 January 1911. After graduating from Trinity College
, Cambridge University, Barton joined Jardines in 1933 as a tea taster and climbing the ranks to become Tai-pan
in 1953 just at 42 years old. Barton was assigned to several key areas throughout Asia
spending most of his time in Shanghai
before returning to Hong Kong
in 1949 when the group's assets fell under the new Communist regime. Barton served with the Irish Guards and fought in the Second World War. He retired from the military in 1944 as a Lt. Colonel and returned to work for Jardine Matheson after the war.
A persistent and flamboyant character, he was appointed Taipan of Jardines, replacing Sir John Keswick. During his tenure, he oversaw the incredible growth of the company in Hong Kong and throughout Asia after the devastating war years and continued trade with China. He also served as a director of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation from 1955 to 1959, Vice Chairman from 1960 to 1961. It's also interesting to note that he also served as the Chairman of the bank from 1962 to 1963, holding the chairmanship title of both the bank and Jardines. As taipan of Jardines, he oversaw the opening of the company headquarters in 1956 along Connaught Road, (a 16-story building which was already replaced in 1972).
He is best remembered for the historic and landmark event of leading Jardines to its initial public offering
. Initially distributing the shares at $2.78, within a week it shot up to $5.22, having been oversubscribed 56 times. During his tenure, Jardines owned much of the richest land in Hong Kong, controlled two of the island's three profitable English newspapers, and has substantial interests in banking, shipping, insurance, utilities, streetcars and airlines and being agent for 77 major companies, trading products ranging from machine tools to fine Scotch throughout Asia. He sat in Hong Kong's governing bodies and the boards of its richest banks. He presided over a time when Jardine, Matheson was at the peak of its economic and political power over Hong Kong.
In a Time Magazine article in 1961, he was described as "Tall (6 ft. 3 in.), suave and social, Cambridge-educated
Hugh Barton joined Jardines in 1933 as a tea taster, scrupulously lives up to the company's cherished traditions, including the raising of ponies that race under the Jardines' silks." After retiring in 1963, he became an influential diplomat in Europe, representing Hong Kong businesses' interests there. In 1965, he became a director of S.G. Warburg. He was invested as a Commander, Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1966. In describing Jardines, a commentator stated, "Jardines always was, and still is, a Scottish house that kept the Sabbath and everything else it could lay hands on."
He died in England in 1989.
Jardine Matheson Holdings
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited often referred to as Jardines, is a multinational corporation incorporated in Bermuda and based in Hong Kong. While listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Singapore Exchange, the vast majority of Jardines shares are traded in Singapore...
from 1953 to 1963.
Barton was born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
on 17 January 1911. After graduating from Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, Cambridge University, Barton joined Jardines in 1933 as a tea taster and climbing the ranks to become Tai-pan
Tai-Pan
The term tai-pan was originally used to describe a foreign businessman in China or Hong Kong in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Cantonese colloquialism is now used in a more general sense for business executives of any origin...
in 1953 just at 42 years old. Barton was assigned to several key areas throughout Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
spending most of his time in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
before returning to 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...
in 1949 when the group's assets fell under the new Communist regime. Barton served with the Irish Guards and fought in the Second World War. He retired from the military in 1944 as a Lt. Colonel and returned to work for Jardine Matheson after the war.
A persistent and flamboyant character, he was appointed Taipan of Jardines, replacing Sir John Keswick. During his tenure, he oversaw the incredible growth of the company in Hong Kong and throughout Asia after the devastating war years and continued trade with China. He also served as a director of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation from 1955 to 1959, Vice Chairman from 1960 to 1961. It's also interesting to note that he also served as the Chairman of the bank from 1962 to 1963, holding the chairmanship title of both the bank and Jardines. As taipan of Jardines, he oversaw the opening of the company headquarters in 1956 along Connaught Road, (a 16-story building which was already replaced in 1972).
He is best remembered for the historic and landmark event of leading Jardines to its initial public offering
Initial public offering
An initial public offering or stock market launch, is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public. It can be used by either small or large companies to raise expansion capital and become publicly traded enterprises...
. Initially distributing the shares at $2.78, within a week it shot up to $5.22, having been oversubscribed 56 times. During his tenure, Jardines owned much of the richest land in Hong Kong, controlled two of the island's three profitable English newspapers, and has substantial interests in banking, shipping, insurance, utilities, streetcars and airlines and being agent for 77 major companies, trading products ranging from machine tools to fine Scotch throughout Asia. He sat in Hong Kong's governing bodies and the boards of its richest banks. He presided over a time when Jardine, Matheson was at the peak of its economic and political power over Hong Kong.
In a Time Magazine article in 1961, he was described as "Tall (6 ft. 3 in.), suave and social, Cambridge-educated
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
Hugh Barton joined Jardines in 1933 as a tea taster, scrupulously lives up to the company's cherished traditions, including the raising of ponies that race under the Jardines' silks." After retiring in 1963, he became an influential diplomat in Europe, representing Hong Kong businesses' interests there. In 1965, he became a director of S.G. Warburg. He was invested as a Commander, Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1966. In describing Jardines, a commentator stated, "Jardines always was, and still is, a Scottish house that kept the Sabbath and everything else it could lay hands on."
He died in England in 1989.