Benjamin Bowring

Benjamin Bowring (* May 17, 1778, † June 1, 1846 ) was an English- Canadian watchmaker, jeweler and businessman. In 1811 he founded the Bowring trade, transport and insurance transactions that later as Bowring Brothers in Canada and the United States, and as CT Bowring & Co. in the UK and elsewhere were known.

Life

Childhood and youth

Benjamin Bowring was born in Exeter, the son of Nathaniel and Susannah Bowring. His family worked for two centuries in the wool industry. His cousin, John Bowring, was the fourth governor of Hong Kong. His father died when he was almost three years old, after which his mother moved the family to her hometown of Moretonhampstead, where Benjamin spent his youth. After completing his school career was an apprentice watchmaker Charles Price, whose daughter he later married Charlotte. On October 6, 1803, three days before his wedding, he opened his own watchmaker's shop in Exeter.

Career

1811 Bowring visited Newfoundland to look for new opportunities for its trading. He traveled several times in the following years there. In 1815 he was one of the permanent residents of the port and the following spring came to his family. His wife opened an outlet connected to his watchmaker's shop small dry goods store. Your business venture proved successful and Bowring decided not to pursue the art of watchmaking, to focus on the growing retail. In 1823 he bought two schooners to carry goods from England and a Newfoundland fish and Robbenprdoukte. The following year he renamed his company in Benjamin Bowring and Son, as his eldest son William was his partner. William drowned four years later.

In 1833 he supplied a volunteer fire department in St. John's. His new fire test was of no help as, on July 7 of the year Bowring business premises and much burnt out on the south side of Water Street in St. John's.

The following year, he handed over control of his company to his son Charles Tricks Bowring and returned with the rest of the family back to England. In 1835 he founded what is known as Benjamin Bowring trading company in Liverpool. Bowring remained in regular contact with his son, offered his advice and took out the audit. In the 1830s the company experienced a major expansion and reached the top positions of the trading company of Water Street. 1839, the company name was changed to " Bowring Brothers", as Charles ' brother Henry was his partner. Two years later, her brother Edward was added.

Retirement and death

In 1841 he handed over the business in Liverpool to Charles. Among these was Charles in C.T. While Bowring Brothers became Bowring and Company renamed company to a major international shipping and insurance company of the leading companies in the cod and seal fisheries, and in the procurement of food and industrial goods in Newfoundland. After the death of Benjamin Bowring, the company expanded its insurance business and became important in trade with metals, coffee, fertilizers and foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals and other goods. Today Bowring Brothers is a successful chain of upscale gift shops with more than sixty locations in Canada and also operates a small chain of home furniture markets. In 1979, the MV Benjamin Bowring named after him. C.T. Bowring and Co. was purchased in 1980 by Marsh & McLennan Companies.