Currimbhoy Ebrahim facts for kids
Sir Fazalbhoy Currimbhoy Ebrahim (born October 25, 1839 – died September 26, 1924) was a very successful businessman from Bombay (now Mumbai) in the 1800s. He was part of the Gujarati Khoja community. He started a big company called E. Pabaney & Co. This company was owned by his family and focused on trading and owning ships. Their business reached far-off places like the Arabian peninsula, the coast of Africa, and even China.
His family, the Khojas, were well-known traders in Bombay. They also did a lot of business in Canton, a major city in southern China. They were very important in India's international trade.
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About Fazalbhoy Currimbhoy
Fazalbhoy Currimbhoy Ebrahim was born in Bombay on October 25, 1839. His family had been traders for many generations. His father was also a successful ship owner.
When he was just 16 years old, Currimbhoy started his own trading company. He called it E. Pabaney. He got help from his father and other family members to get started. He was married twice and had many children.
His Business: E. Pabaney
Currimbhoy officially started E. Pabaney in 1856 in Bombay. It began as a company that bought and sold goods. Just one year later, in 1857, the company opened an office in Hong Kong. This office was on Duddell Street.
What E. Pabaney Traded
E. Pabaney traded in many different goods. They bought and sold things like yarn, cotton, silk, and tea. Soon, they had offices in many places across the Far East.
Their ships traveled between India, Africa, China, and Hong Kong. In Shanghai, people knew the company as the "8 Bali Foreign company." In 1903, E. Pabaney also opened an office in Singapore.
It's good to know that any company named E. Pabaney today in India is not connected to this historical company.
Honours and Helping Others
Currimbhoy received special honours for his achievements. He was made a Knight in 1905. This happened during a visit by the Prince and Princess of Wales to British India. Later, in 1910, he was given the title of a baronet. This meant he became "Sir Fazalbhoy Currimbhoy Ebrahim, 1st Baronet."
He also used his wealth to help others. He started a trust called the Currimbhoy Ebrahim Khoja Orphanage trust. This trust still owns land in and around Mumbai today. This includes Currimbhoy Manor in Bombay and a bungalow in Pune.
The Orphanage
In 1895, Currimbhoy founded an orphanage called Currimbhoy Ebrahim Khoja Yateemkhana. It was located on Altamount Road in Mumbai. The trust he created ran this orphanage for many years. In 2002, the orphanage property was sold.
