Harman and Co.

Harman and Co. was a well-known and respected English banking firm in the City of London. It was founded around 1740 by Quaker partners Johnathan Gurnell (1684-1753)[1] (who married in 1711 Grizell Wilmer of Pitzhanger Manor) and Joseph Hoare (d. 1729), and was in business until 1846.[2] The firm traded extensively with Portugal[3] and were agents for the Russian Imperial Court in St. Petersburg.[4]

Harman and Co.
IndustryFinance
Foundedc. 1740
Defunct1846
HeadquartersLondon, England, UK
Key people
Johnathan Gurnell
Joseph Hoare
Samuel Hoare
John Harman
Jeremiah Harman
Edward Harman
Henry Harman
ProductsFinancial services

The firm had close ties to the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade[5] The only surviving brother of one of its founders was the abolitionist Samuel Hoare Jr. Jeremiah Harman, son of one of the early investors, was one of the first merchants to liquidate his slave related holdings.[5]

The firm changed names several times, finally settling on Harman and Co.[3]

  • Gurnell and Hoare c. 1750 - c.1754[6] at Frederick Place in Old Jewry, London. Samuel Hoare, son of Joseph, was involved in the company from the beginning.[7] When John Harman joined the firm, the name was changed to Gurnell, Hoare, and Harman.
  • Gurnell, Hoare, Harman & Co. (Sometimes Gurnell, Hoare, and Harman or Gurnell, Hoare & Co) c.1754[8] - c. 1783[9] at Frederick Place in Old Jewry, London. Henry Hope, later a significant international merchant banker, apprenticed in the firm during 1754-1760[10]
  • Harman, Hoare, and Co. c.1786[11] - c.1792[12] at Frederick Place in Old Jewry, London
  • Harman and Co. c.1804[13]-1846 at Adam's Court of Old Broad Street, London. John's son Jeremiah (above) took over as a principal partner. He was a well-known banker, from 1816-1818 Governor of the Bank of England,[3] and remained head of the firm until his death in 1844. The business was left to the two remaining partners: Edward Harman and Henry Harman.[4]

References
  1. Puritan family of Wilmer: their alliances and connections
  2. The Business of Abolishing the British Slave Trade, 1783-1807
  3. The Gentleman's Magazine (London, England), Volume 175, 1844
  4. The Commercial Crisis, 1847-1848 by David Morier Evans
  5. The City of London and slavery: evidence from the first dock companies, 1795–1800
  6. Business of Abolishing the British Slave Trade, 1783-1807
  7. Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, Volumes 1-3
  8. History of the Wilmer family, together with some account of its descendants
  9. The New Complete Guide to All Persons who Have Any Trade Or Concern with the City of London
  10. The Short Journal and Itinerary Journals of George Fox
  11. Insurance Policy Register, 1777-1786
  12. London Metropolitan Archives: City of London
  13. Celebrated Trials, and Remarkable Cases of Criminal Jurisprudence, 1825
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