881
RUSSEL & COMPANY
Much of the Colony's early history is bound up with the records of the old firms, whose beginnings are often of the greatest interest to us now, and deserve to be placed on record.
A firm which can claim to be the oldest-established out here is Shewan, Tomes and Company, with a connexion going back to 1818, when its predecessors, Semuel Russell and Co. (later Russel and Co.) came into being at Canton. The original firm was an American one, originating in Boston, and its history not only gives us a valuable insight to America's early trade with China, but also points to the close relations (previously referred to in these articles) which have always existed between the British and Americans in this Colony.
Some of the old documents and pictures relating to Russel and Co. are still preserved in Shewan, Tomes and Co.'s office here; and references to the firm occur in Hunter's "Fan Kwae at Canton" as well as a comparatively recent publication, "Old Shipping Days in Boston". The last-named has been particularly valuable, especially in regard to the illustrations of personages, places and ships; and I am indebted to a previous contributor to this column, "Old Mortality," for kindly lending his copy of the book.
The early American commercial dealings with China were established by Major Shaw, who made a final voyage to this part of the world in 1789. In his wake came other American merchants, one of these being Colonel Thomas Handasyd Perkins, one of Boston's foremost merchants and head of the Boston house of J. & T.H. Perkins. He founded the house of Perkins and Co. at Canton, then the second largest American firm in China, in 1803.
The house of Perkins and Co. had a successful career, and was merged in 1824 with Russell and Co. Many prominent men were connected with the old house of Perkins, and owed their success and fortunes to this fact.
Colonel Perkins in his youth had been employed by the Messrs. Shattuck, one of the most active firms of merchants in Boston at one time, and in 1789 he first turned his attention to China, coming out as supercargo in the "Astraea," which was owned by Elias Hasket Derby, often called the King of Salem Merchants. The "Astraea" a few years later was the first vessel to carry the American flag to Manila.
The most important American firm east of the Cape of Good Hope, however, was Russell and Co., which was established under that name at Canton in 1824, but commenced in 1818. This house was usually referred to as Kee Cheong by the Chinese, and its successors retain the name to-day. Canton was then the only port in China open to foreigners, but later eight other branches were established at Hongkong, Foochow, Shanghai and other places.
The partners of this house included many well-known New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts names, among the latter such men as Augustin Heard of Ipswich, (who later founded his own firm in Hongkong), W.H. and A.A. Low, both of Salem, Thomas T., John M., R.B., M., and F.B. Forbes, all of Boston, Warren and Edward Delano of Fairhaven, Russell Sturgis, Joseph Coolidge, Robert Shaw Sturgis, Edward Cunningham, George Tyson, H.S. Grew,
Page 40
Page 41
881
RUSSEL & COMPANY
Much of the Colony's early history is bound up with the records of the old firms, whose beginnings are often of the greatest interest to us now, and deserve to be placed on record.
A firm which can claim to be the oldest-established out here is Shewan, Tomes and Company, with a connexion going back to 1818, when its predecessors, Semuel Russell and Co. (later Russel and Co.) came into being at Canton. The original firm was an American one, originating in Boston, and its history not only gives us a valuable insight to America's early trade with Chine, but also points to the close relations (previously referred to in these articles) which have always existed between the British and Americans in this Colony.
Some of the old documents end plotures relating to Russel end Co. are still preserved in Shewan, Tomes and Co.'s office here;
and references to the firm ooour in Hunter's "Fan Kwas at Canton" as well as a comparatively recent publication, "old Shipping Days in Boston". The last-named has been particularly valuable, especially in regard to the illustrations of
J
personages, places and ships; and I am indebted to e previous contributor to this column, "Old Mortality," for kindly lending his copy of the book.
The early American commercial dealings with Chine were established by Major Shaw, who made a final voyage to this part of the world in 1789. In his wake came other American merchants, one of these being Colonel Thomas Handssyd Perkins, one of Boston's foremost merchants and head by the Boston house of J. & T.H. Ferkins. He founded the house of Perkins and Co. at Canton, then the second largest American firm in China, in 1803.
i
The house of Perkins and Co. had a successful career, and was merged in 1824 with Russell and Co. Many prominent men were connected with the old house of Perkins, end owed the ir success and fortunes to this fact.
Colonel Perkins in his youth had been employed by the Messrs. Shattuck, one of the most active firms of merchants in Boston at one time, snd in 1789 he first turned his attention to China, coming out as super cargo in the "Astraea," which was owned by Elies Hesket Derby, often called the King of Selem Merohents. The "Astraeg" a few years later was the first vessel to carry the American flag to Manila.
The most important American firm east of the Cape of Good Hope, however, was Russell and Co., which was established under that name at Canton in 1824, but commenced in 1818. This house was usually referred to as Kee Cheong by the Chinese, and its successors retain the name to-day. Genton was then the only port in China open to foreigners, but later eight other branches were established at Hongkong, Foochow, Shanghai and other places.
K
The pertners of this house included many well-known New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts nemes, among the latter such men as Augustin Heard of Ipswich, (who later founded his own firm in Hongkong), W.H. end A.A. Low, both of Salem, Thomas T., John M., R.B., M., and F.B. Forbes, all of Boston, Warren end Läward Delano of Fairhaven, Russell Sturgis, Joseph Coolidge, Robert Shaw Sturgis, Edward Cunningham, George Tyson, H.S.Grew,
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