Howqua
Howqua (Chinese: 伍秉鉴 Pinyin: Wu Bingjian) was the most important of the Hong merchants in the Thirteen Factories, and the leader of the Canton Cohong - Ewo (怡和). He was once one of the richest men in the world. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Biography
Born in Fujian, China, he was known to the West as "Howqua" (the second). His father, Wu Guorong was also "Howqua" (the first) and was founder of the family company. Because his Chinese name was too difficult for western traders to pronounce, the name Howqua comes from his Chinese Business Name "浩官" (Pinyin: Haoguan), very similar to a DBA. [5] He became rich on the trade between China and the British Empire in the middle of the 19th century during the Opium Wars. Perhaps the wealthiest man in China during the nineteenth century, Howqua was the senior of the hong merchants in Canton, one of the few authorized to trade silk and porcelain with foreigners. The volume of his wealth was almost unimaginable. According historic records, [6] there was a fire in 1822 and many of the cohongs were burned down. The melted silver formed a little stream, the length was almost 2 miles. [7] [8] In Nanjing Treaty, amount the 3 million dollars of compensations that were required to pay back to the British, he single-handedly contributed one million, one third of the total sum, [9] he later died in Guangzhou the same year.
Till this day, portraits of the pigtailed Howqua in his robes still hang in Salem and Newport mansions built by U.S. merchants grateful for his assistance.
Legacy
During his time as one of the Hong merchants in the Thirteen Factories, the Qing Dynasty saw a short period of trade prosperity. Canton also became one of the most populated city in the world. [10]
The founders of world-renowned company Jardine Matheson Holdings - James Matheson, William Jardine, Samuel Russell and Abiel Abbot Low had a closed relationship with Howqua. After the fall of the Thirteen Factories, they continued the name of Ewo (怡和) and used it as Jardine's Chinese name till this day. [11]
With the spelling Hu-Kwa his name and likeness are used for a brand of imported lapsang souchong smoked tea.
External links
- In Chinese - Official Bio from Shenzhen Gov. Archives
- In Chinese - Howqua's Bio on Baidu Baike
- In Chinese - Howqua's Bio on NetEase
- The story of the merchant (site in English maintained by tea importer)
References
- ^ Amazon.ca: The Rich and How They Got That Way: How the Wealthiest People of All Time - From Genghis Khan to Bill Gates - Made Their Fortunes: Books
- ^ The Rich And How They Got That Way By Cynthia Crossen Publisher: Crown Publishing Group Pub. Date: 2000 ISBN 0812932676
- ^ http://www.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1008/1/4/2/100814207.html?coluid=6&kindid=26&docid=100814207&mdate=1129102451
- ^ http://news.sina.com.tw/books/novel/barticle/3409.html
- ^ http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/廣州十三行
- ^ <<觸藩始末>> The Start and End of Upsetting The Foreigners, Chapter 3
- ^ http://www.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1008/1/4/2/100814207.html?coluid=6&kindid=26&docid=100814207&mdate=1129102451
- ^ http://news.sina.com.tw/books/novel/barticle/3409.html
- ^ 档案揭秘:被称为“天下第一大富翁”的伍秉鉴-欢迎进入深圳档案网
- ^ http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa011201e.htm
- ^ http://www.jardines.com/profile/history_1830.html