David Wilson (hotelier) facts for kids
David Wilson (born 1808, died 1880) was a clever businessman who started a famous hotel in Kolkata, India. He first worked as a confectioner, making sweets and pastries. On November 18, 1840, he opened the Auckland Hotel. This hotel was also known as Wilson's Hotel and later changed its name to the Great Eastern Hotel. It became one of the most famous hotels in India and is still open today as the Great Eastern Kolkata.
David Wilson came from a place called Herefordshire in England. He first opened a bakery at No. 1 Old Court House Street in Kolkata. His bakery was very popular because it served British people from the East India Company. They missed their breads and muffins from back home! Because of his success, David bought the buildings at No. 2 and No. 3 Old Court House Road in 1840. He turned them into a hotel, which he named after George Eden, who was the first Earl of Auckland.
David Wilson's Early Life and Family
David Wilson was born in a town called Brilley, in Herefordshire, England, in 1808. He moved to Kolkata, India, and in 1838, he married Mary Mandy. They had a family, and one of their grandchildren grew up to be a famous African explorer named Lieut Boyd Alexander.
David also had a sister named Anne who lived in Kolkata. In 1840, Anne married one of David's friends, Frederick William Browne, who was also a confectioner. Sadly, Frederick died in 1864 during a big cyclone while on a ship called the Persia.
The Great Eastern Hotel's Success
David Wilson moved back to England in the 1860s, but he still managed his hotel in Kolkata. Over the years, the hotel became more and more successful. In 1863, it made history by becoming the first hotel in India to have electricity! This was a very modern feature for its time.
Many famous people have stayed at the Great Eastern Hotel. These guests include the famous American writer Samuel Clemens, a Russian leader named Nikita Khrushchev, and even Queen Elizabeth II of England.
When David Wilson passed away in 1880, he was a very wealthy man. He had built a lasting legacy with his famous hotel.
