Balfour Williamson & Co
Other Business Names:
- Balfour, Andrew
- Williamson, Stephen
- Duncan, David
- Balfour Guthrie
- Lonrho Ltd
- Balfour Guthrie & Co
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Chile
- Liverpool, Liverpool, Merseyside, North West, England
- London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
- Peru
Sectors:
-
Merchanting & trade, international & inland
General trading & trade
-
Merchanting & trade, international & inland
General trading co & agency house activities
-
Food & tobacco processing
Grain milling inc flour, starch & glucose products
-
Financial services
Merchant & investment banking services
Notes:
Established in 1851 as merchants by Alexander Balfour, 1824-86, Stephen Williamson and David Duncan (who withdrew in 1863). Based at Liverpool, the business initially traded with Chile where it established branches at Valparaiso and elsewhere and developed as an agency house, importing British manufactures and exporting goods such as nitrates and wool, investing in local commodity production, promoting utility businesses, acting as agents for UK businesses, managing local businesses on behalf of UK investors, etc. From 1860s also developed a similar business, Balfour Guthrie, in California and later expanded into Peru. Later known as Balfour, Williamson & Co Ltd. Developed in particular major interests in grain milling in both Chile and Peru. In 1909 head office relocated from Liverpool to London. In early 20th century expanded rapidly assuming characteristics of a merchant bank. Incorporated 1920s. Subsequently in decline. Sometime acquired by Lonrho Ltd
Publications:
- Alexander Balfour. A memoir by Lundie, R H
- Balfour Williamson & Company and Allied Firms. Memoirs of a merchant house by Forres, Lord
- Before the nitrate era. British commission houses and the Chilean economy, 1851-1880 by Mayo, John
- Heirs of Great Adventure. The history of Balfour Williamson & Co Ltd, 1851-1901, 1901-51 by Hunt, Wallis
- Merchants to Multinationals. British trading companies in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries by Jones, Geoffrey
- Small business in the Peruvian oil industry. Lobitos Oilfields Ltd before 1934 by Miller, Rory M
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- Balfour, Andrew
- Williamson, Stephen
- Duncan, David
- Balfour Guthrie
- Lonrho Ltd
- Balfour Guthrie & Co
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Chile
- Liverpool, Liverpool, Merseyside, North West, England
- London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
- Peru
Sectors:
- Merchanting & trade, international & inland General trading & trade
- Merchanting & trade, international & inland General trading co & agency house activities
- Food & tobacco processing Grain milling inc flour, starch & glucose products
- Financial services Merchant & investment banking services
Notes:
Established in 1851 as merchants by Alexander Balfour, 1824-86, Stephen Williamson and David Duncan (who withdrew in 1863). Based at Liverpool, the business initially traded with Chile where it established branches at Valparaiso and elsewhere and developed as an agency house, importing British manufactures and exporting goods such as nitrates and wool, investing in local commodity production, promoting utility businesses, acting as agents for UK businesses, managing local businesses on behalf of UK investors, etc. From 1860s also developed a similar business, Balfour Guthrie, in California and later expanded into Peru. Later known as Balfour, Williamson & Co Ltd. Developed in particular major interests in grain milling in both Chile and Peru. In 1909 head office relocated from Liverpool to London. In early 20th century expanded rapidly assuming characteristics of a merchant bank. Incorporated 1920s. Subsequently in decline. Sometime acquired by Lonrho LtdPublications:
- Alexander Balfour. A memoir by Lundie, R H
- Balfour Williamson & Company and Allied Firms. Memoirs of a merchant house by Forres, Lord
- Before the nitrate era. British commission houses and the Chilean economy, 1851-1880 by Mayo, John
- Heirs of Great Adventure. The history of Balfour Williamson & Co Ltd, 1851-1901, 1901-51 by Hunt, Wallis
- Merchants to Multinationals. British trading companies in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries by Jones, Geoffrey
- Small business in the Peruvian oil industry. Lobitos Oilfields Ltd before 1934 by Miller, Rory M