Russell & Company
Encyclopedia
Russell & Company was the largest and most important American trading house in China
from 1842 to its closing in 1891.
Samuel Russell
founded Russell & Company in Canton, China, in 1824. Dealing mostly in silk
s, tea
s and opium
, Russell & Company prospered, and by 1842, it had become the largest American trading house in China. It kept its dominance until its closing in 1891. Russell withdrew from the company in 1836 and returned to the United States.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
from 1842 to its closing in 1891.
Samuel Russell
Samuel Russell
Samuel Wadsworth Russell, born in Middletown, Connecticut , was an American entrepreneur and trader, and founder of Russell & Company, the largest and most important American trading house in China from 1842 to its closing in 1891.- Early life :Orphaned at the age of 12, Russell did not receive any...
founded Russell & Company in Canton, China, in 1824. Dealing mostly in silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
s, tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
s and opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
, Russell & Company prospered, and by 1842, it had become the largest American trading house in China. It kept its dominance until its closing in 1891. Russell withdrew from the company in 1836 and returned to the United States.
Notables of Russell & Company
- Warren Delano, Jr., the grandfather of Franklin Roosevelt (32nd President of the United States) served as the Chief of Operations of Russell and Company in CantonGuangzhouGuangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
. - John Murray ForbesJohn Murray ForbesJohn Murray Forbes was an American railroad magnate, merchant, philanthropist and abolitionist. He was president of both the Michigan Central railroad and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in the 1850s....
, the great-granduncle of 2004 presidential candidate John Forbes Kerry. - Robert Bennet ForbesRobert Bennet ForbesCaptain Robert Bennet Forbes , was a sea captain, China merchant, ship owner, and writer. He was active in ship construction, maritime safety, the opium trade, and charitable activities.-Captain, opium trader and humanitarian:...
, his son, was the head of Russell and Company. - Abiel Abbot LowAbiel Abbot LowAbiel Abbot Low was an American entrepreneur, businessman, trader and philanthropist who gained most of his fortune from the China trade, importing teas, porcelains, and silk, and building and operating a fleet of reputable clipper ships.- Early life :Abiel Abbot Low was one of twelve children of...
, founder of trading company A. A. Low & Brothers, served as a partner. - William Henry LowWilliam Henry LowWilliam Henry Low was an American entrepreneur, businessman and trader from Salem, Massachusetts, who was one of the American pioneers of the Old China Trade. In 1828, having settled in Canton, China, Low was admitted as a partner of the Russell & Co. trading company, as a replacement chosen by...
, Abiel Abbot Low's uncle, senior partner of the firm. - William Henry Low, Abiel Abbot Low's brother.
- Augustine HeardAugustine HeardAugustine Heard was an American entrepreneur, businessman and trader, and founder of the Augustine Heard & Co. firm in China.- Early career :...
, who later founded Augustine Heard & Company, a large trading house in China. - Russell SturgisRussell Sturgis (1805-1887)Russell Sturgis was a Boston merchant active in the China trade, and later head of Baring Brothers, London.Sturgis was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1805, a grandson of the noted merchant Russell Sturgis , went to Harvard College at twelve, and in 1828 first sailed abroad...
, who later became head of Baring Brothers in London. - John Cleve GreenJohn Cleve GreenJohn Cleve Green was a China merchant and former partner of John Murray Forbes in the China trading house of Russell & Company. Green was a benefactor of Princeton University and the Lawrenceville School. One of his homes was a 10 acre estate in New Brighton, Staten Island, where Curtis High...
1800-1875 Philanthropist - benefactor of Princeton.