Augustine Heard & Co. (Chinese: 瓊記洋行; pinyin: Qióngjì Yángháng) was a major nineteenth-century American trading firm in Qing dynasty China whose operations consisted in importing and exporting a large array of goods, including tea and opium.
Residence of Augustine Heard and Company, Hong Kong, c. 1860. The building was later modified and is now known as the Former French Mission Building.
Augustine Heard and Co. was founded in 1840, in Canton, China by Ipswich, Massachusetts, businessman, traveller, trader and former Russell & Co. partner Augustine Heard, and his partners, Joseph Coolidge and George Basil Dixwell. Throughout its history, it was run in large part by Heard family members, most notably Heard's four nephews from his brother George Washington Heard: John, Augustine, Albert Farley and George Washington Jr.
In 1841, Augustine Heard, who had previously lived in China but had returned for health reasons to Ipswich, returned to China to head the firm until 1844. There, business flourished, notably because of the use of fast clipper ships and the import of steamships. Tea, one of the main commodities traded, did not provide much profit compared to opium, which enabled the firm's finances to soar, Augustine Heard & Co. becoming the third largest American firm in China in the mid-nineteenth century. The firm also introduced steamships to China, and imported them through its sister firm in the U.S. The firm also became the main trading agent for several large firms, including Liverpool firm John Swire & Sons Limited. in 1861.[1]
In 1844, Heard began travelling extensively, and handed control over the firm to his partners. Among Heard's partners, his four nephews were most active and ably directed the firm. John Heard led the firm until his departure in 1852; Augustine Heard II then took over the leadership of the firm and became the first Westerner permitted to trade in Siam in 1855. When his brother John returned to take the leadership again, the younger Augustine became the firm's representative to Europe. Albert Farley later took over the firm and, finally, George Washington Jr. who remained in China until the firm's collapse.[2]
The firm prospered until the 1870s when, just like its rivals, it encountered financial difficulties, and finally went bankrupt in 1875.[citation needed]
United Statesedit
A sister company bearing the same name operated between April 13, 1861, and April 9, 1865, in the business of "buying and shipping steamers for China, receiving merchandise from China, and selling the same, and insuring merchandise and vessels."[3]
^. Archived from the original on 2007-05-24. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
^. Archived from the original on 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
^"U.S. Supreme Court WILLIAMS v. HEARD, 140 U.S. 529 (1891)". Retrieved 2007-08-07.
External linksedit
The Phillips Library holds several manuscript collections of Augustine Heard and Company and various family members.
Archives and recordsedit
Heard Family Business records at Baker Library Historical Collections, Harvard Business School.
Augustine Heard & Company invoices and receipts at Baker Library Special Collections, Harvard Business School.
December 15, 2023
augustine, heard, chinese, 瓊記洋行, pinyin, qióngjì, yángháng, major, nineteenth, century, american, trading, firm, qing, dynasty, china, whose, operations, consisted, importing, exporting, large, array, goods, including, opium, residence, augustine, heard, compa. Augustine Heard amp Co Chinese 瓊記洋行 pinyin Qiongji Yanghang was a major nineteenth century American trading firm in Qing dynasty China whose operations consisted in importing and exporting a large array of goods including tea and opium Residence of Augustine Heard and Company Hong Kong c 1860 The building was later modified and is now known as the Former French Mission Building Contents 1 History and leadership 2 United States 3 Notable partners 4 See also 5 References 6 External links 7 Archives and recordsHistory and leadership editAugustine Heard and Co was founded in 1840 in Canton China by Ipswich Massachusetts businessman traveller trader and former Russell amp Co partner Augustine Heard and his partners Joseph Coolidge and George Basil Dixwell Throughout its history it was run in large part by Heard family members most notably Heard s four nephews from his brother George Washington Heard John Augustine Albert Farley and George Washington Jr In 1841 Augustine Heard who had previously lived in China but had returned for health reasons to Ipswich returned to China to head the firm until 1844 There business flourished notably because of the use of fast clipper ships and the import of steamships Tea one of the main commodities traded did not provide much profit compared to opium which enabled the firm s finances to soar Augustine Heard amp Co becoming the third largest American firm in China in the mid nineteenth century The firm also introduced steamships to China and imported them through its sister firm in the U S The firm also became the main trading agent for several large firms including Liverpool firm John Swire amp Sons Limited in 1861 1 In 1844 Heard began travelling extensively and handed control over the firm to his partners Among Heard s partners his four nephews were most active and ably directed the firm John Heard led the firm until his departure in 1852 Augustine Heard II then took over the leadership of the firm and became the first Westerner permitted to trade in Siam in 1855 When his brother John returned to take the leadership again the younger Augustine became the firm s representative to Europe Albert Farley later took over the firm and finally George Washington Jr who remained in China until the firm s collapse 2 The firm prospered until the 1870s when just like its rivals it encountered financial difficulties and finally went bankrupt in 1875 citation needed United States editA sister company bearing the same name operated between April 13 1861 and April 9 1865 in the business of buying and shipping steamers for China receiving merchandise from China and selling the same and insuring merchandise and vessels 3 Notable partners editJoseph Coolidge trader George B Dixwell New England merchant John Murray Forbes American railroad magnate Augustine Heard founder Augustine Heard II later U S Minister to Korea John Heard Albert Farley Heard George Washington Jr See also edit nbsp Companies portalList of trading companiesReferences edit Swire Pacific Company History Archived from the original on 2007 05 24 Retrieved 2007 08 07 Ipswich Historical Society and Museums Personalities Archived from the original on 2007 10 10 Retrieved 2007 08 07 U S Supreme Court WILLIAMS v HEARD 140 U S 529 1891 Retrieved 2007 08 07 External links editThe Phillips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum The Phillips Library holds several manuscript collections of Augustine Heard and Company and various family members Archives and records editHeard Family Business records at Baker Library Historical Collections Harvard Business School Augustine Heard amp Company invoices and receipts at Baker Library Special Collections Harvard Business School Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Augustine Heard 26 Co amp oldid 1170083608, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
