William Jardine (merchant)

1784

William Jardine (24 February 1784 – 27 February 1843) was a Scottish physician, opium merchant and trader who co-founded the Hong Kong based conglomerate Jardine, Matheson & Co.

After Imperial Commissioner Lin Zexu destroyed 20,000 cases of opium that the British smuggled into China in 1839, Jardine arrived in London that September to press Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston for a forceful response. ==Early life== Jardine, one of seven children, was born in 1784 on a small farm near Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.

1800

In 1800 he entered the University of Edinburgh Medical School where he took classes in anatomy, medical practice, and obstetrics among others.

1801

The second was 26-year-old Charles Magniac who had arrived in Guangzhou at the beginning of 1801 to supervise his father's watch business in Canton in partnership with Daniel Beale. By leaving the East India Company in 1817, Jardine was able to exploit the opportunity afforded by the company's policy of not transporting opium but contracting the trade out to free traders.

1802

Following his return to England from the Far East, between 1841 and 1843, he was Member of Parliament for Ashburton representing the Whig party. Educated in medicine at the University of Edinburgh, in 1802 Jardine obtained a diploma from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

He graduated from the Edinburgh Medical School on 2 March 1802, and was presented a full diploma from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

1803

He chose to join the service of the British East India Company and in 1803, at the age of 19, boarded the East Indiaman Brunswick as a surgeon's mate in the East India Company's Maritime Marine Service.

1817

In May 1817, he abandoned medicine for trade. Jardine was a resident in China from 1820 to 1839.

The second was 26-year-old Charles Magniac who had arrived in Guangzhou at the beginning of 1801 to supervise his father's watch business in Canton in partnership with Daniel Beale. By leaving the East India Company in 1817, Jardine was able to exploit the opportunity afforded by the company's policy of not transporting opium but contracting the trade out to free traders.

1820

In May 1817, he abandoned medicine for trade. Jardine was a resident in China from 1820 to 1839.

Magniac returned to England in the late 1820s with the firm in the hands of Jardine and Matheson.

1822

In 1822, during his visit to the firm's Guangzhou office, he found the local office in management crisis, with employees in near mutiny against the firm's officers.

1824

Jeejeebhoy long continued as a close business associate of Jardine and that a portrait of Jeejeebhoy hung in Jardines’ Hong Kong office in the 1990s was tribute to that. In 1824, a very important opportunity arose for Jardine.

1825

His early success in Canton as a commercial agent for opium merchants in India led to his admission in 1825 as a partner in Magniac & Co., and by 1826 he controlled that firm's Canton operations.

Magniac invited Jardine to join him in 1825 and, three years later, James Matheson joined the partnership.

1826

His early success in Canton as a commercial agent for opium merchants in India led to his admission in 1825 as a partner in Magniac & Co., and by 1826 he controlled that firm's Canton operations.

1827

in 1827, but their association was officially advertised on 1 January 1828.

and the Origins of British Rule in Hong Kong 1827-1843 by Alain Le Pichon Jardine Matheson Archives Cambridge Library Jardine Matheson: Traders of the Far East by Sir Robert Blake The Thistle and the Jade by Maggie Keswick ==Further reading== Richard J.

1828

in 1827, but their association was officially advertised on 1 January 1828.

1832

until 1832 as the name Magniac was still formidable throughout China and India.

1834

In 1834, Parliament ended the monopoly of the British East India Company on trade between Britain and China.

In 1834, working with the Chief Superintendent of Trade representing the British Empire, William, Lord Napier, tried unsuccessfully to negotiate with the Chinese officials in Canton.

1835

In early 1835 he ordered James Matheson to leave for Britain to persuade the Government to take up strong action to further open up trade in China.

1836

However, his activities and widespread lobbying in several forums including Parliament sowed seeds that would lead to war in a few years. ==Departure from China and breakdown of relations== Matheson returned to China in 1836 to prepare to take over the firm as Jardine was preparing to fulfill his temporarily delayed retirement.

1838

Lin Zexu, appointed specifically to suppress the drug trafficking in Guangzhou, stated, "The Iron-headed Old Rat, the sly and cunning ring-leader of the opium smugglers has left for The Land of Mist, of fear from the Middle Kingdom's wrath." He then ordered the surrender of all opium and the destruction of more than 20,000 cases of opium in Guangzhou, representing 50 per cent of the entire trade in opium in 1838.

1839

In May 1817, he abandoned medicine for trade. Jardine was a resident in China from 1820 to 1839.

After Imperial Commissioner Lin Zexu destroyed 20,000 cases of opium that the British smuggled into China in 1839, Jardine arrived in London that September to press Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston for a forceful response. ==Early life== Jardine, one of seven children, was born in 1784 on a small farm near Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.

Jardine left Canton on 26 January 1839 for Britain as retirement but in actuality to try to continue Matheson's work.

Lin also wrote to Queen Victoria, to submit in obeisance in the presence of the Chinese Emperor. ==War and the Chinese surrender== Having arrived in London in September 1839, Jardine's first order of business was to meet with Lord Palmerston.

1841

Following his return to England from the Far East, between 1841 and 1843, he was Member of Parliament for Ashburton representing the Whig party. Educated in medicine at the University of Edinburgh, in 1802 Jardine obtained a diploma from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

It allowed the opening of five major Chinese ports, granted extraterritoriality to foreigners and their activities in China, indemnification for the opium destroyed and completed the formal acquisition of the island of Hong Kong, which had been officially taken over as a trading and military base since 26 January 1841, though it had already been used years earlier as a transhipment point.

Trade with China, especially in the illegal opium, grew, and so did the firm of Jardine, Matheson & Co., which was already known as the Princely Hong for being the largest British trading firm in East Asia. By 1841, Jardine had 19 intercontinental clipper ships, compared to close rival Dent and Company with 13.

In 1841, Jardine was elected to the House of Commons, a Whig Member of Parliament (MP) representing Ashburton in Devon.

1842

He had also bought a country estate, Lanrick Castle, in Perthshire, Scotland. ==Death and legacy== In late 1842, Jardine's health had rapidly deteriorated due to colon cancer.

Matheson retired as taipan in 1842 and handed over control of the firm to his nephew Sir Alexander Matheson, who was also known as of the same capacity and competence as the elder Jardine and Matheson.

1843

William Jardine (24 February 1784 – 27 February 1843) was a Scottish physician, opium merchant and trader who co-founded the Hong Kong based conglomerate Jardine, Matheson & Co.

Following his return to England from the Far East, between 1841 and 1843, he was Member of Parliament for Ashburton representing the Whig party. Educated in medicine at the University of Edinburgh, in 1802 Jardine obtained a diploma from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Jardine so handsomely afforded us it was mainly owing that we were able to give our affairs naval, military and diplomatic, in China those detailed instructions which have led to these satisfactory results. In 1843, the Treaty of Nanking was signed by official representatives of both Britain and China.

He died on 27 February 1843, just three days after his 59th birthday, one of the richest and most powerful men in Britain and Member of Parliament.

1859

Keswick was responsible for opening the Japan office of the firm in 1859 and also expanding the Shanghai office.

1874

A great-nephew of Jardine who would be taipan from 1874 to 1886, William Keswick (1834–1912), is the ancestor of the Keswick branch (pronounced Ke-zick) of the family.

1886

A great-nephew of Jardine who would be taipan from 1874 to 1886, William Keswick (1834–1912), is the ancestor of the Keswick branch (pronounced Ke-zick) of the family.

1912

In 1912, Jardine, Matheson & Co.

1947

In 1947, a secret Trust was formed by members of the family to retain effective control over the company.

1959

for $84 million at the then prevailing exchange rate in 1959.

The Keswick family, in consortium with several London-based banks and financial institutions, bought out the controlling shares of the Buchanan-Jardine family in 1959, but subsequently sold most of the shares during the 1961 public offering, retaining only about 10% of the company.

1961

offered its shares to the public in 1961 under the tenure of Hugh Barton and was oversubscribed 56 times.

The Keswick family, in consortium with several London-based banks and financial institutions, bought out the controlling shares of the Buchanan-Jardine family in 1959, but subsequently sold most of the shares during the 1961 public offering, retaining only about 10% of the company.

1970

The company had its head office redomiciled to Bermuda in 1984 under the tenure of Simon Keswick. The present Chairman of Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd, Sir Henry Keswick, who is based in the UK, was the company's tai-pan from 1970 (aged 31) to 1975 and was the 6th Keswick to be tai-pan of the company.

1975

The company had its head office redomiciled to Bermuda in 1984 under the tenure of Simon Keswick. The present Chairman of Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd, Sir Henry Keswick, who is based in the UK, was the company's tai-pan from 1970 (aged 31) to 1975 and was the 6th Keswick to be tai-pan of the company.

1983

His brother Simon was the company's taipan from 1983 to 1988 and is the 7th Keswick to be tai-pan.

1984

The company had its head office redomiciled to Bermuda in 1984 under the tenure of Simon Keswick. The present Chairman of Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd, Sir Henry Keswick, who is based in the UK, was the company's tai-pan from 1970 (aged 31) to 1975 and was the 6th Keswick to be tai-pan of the company.

1988

His brother Simon was the company's taipan from 1983 to 1988 and is the 7th Keswick to be tai-pan.

1990

Jeejeebhoy long continued as a close business associate of Jardine and that a portrait of Jeejeebhoy hung in Jardines’ Hong Kong office in the 1990s was tribute to that. In 1824, a very important opportunity arose for Jardine.




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