Sir George Wombwell, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir George Wombwell, 1st Baronet (born June 11, 1734 – died November 2, 1780) was an important person in British history. He led a very powerful trading company called the Honourable East India Company. He was also a Member of Parliament, which means he helped make laws for the country.
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Who Was Sir George Wombwell?
Sir George Wombwell was born in Scotland in 1734. His father, Roger Wombwell, was a merchant from Glasgow. A merchant is someone who buys and sells goods for a living. George followed in his father's footsteps and became involved in business.
Early Life and Business
Young George moved to London and joined a business with his uncle. Their company was called George Wombwell, sen. and jun. This partnership helped him learn a lot about trade and how to run a big business. These early experiences were very important for his future success.
Leading the East India Company
The British East India Company was a huge trading company. It had a lot of power and traded goods like tea and spices from India. Sir George Wombwell became a director of this company several times. He served as a director from 1766 to 1769 and again from 1775 to 1777.
His biggest role was when he became the chairman of the company. He led the East India Company as chairman from 1777 to 1779. This was a very important job, as the company had a big impact on trade and even politics.
A Member of Parliament
Besides his business career, Sir George Wombwell also worked in politics. In 1774, he was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person elected to represent a certain area in the country's government. He represented a place called Huntingdon.
He served as an MP until 1780. In 1778, he was given a special title: a baronet. This title is a bit like a knight, and it can be passed down in the family.
Family Life
Sir George Wombwell married a woman named Susanna. Her father was Sir Thomas Rawlinson, who had been the Lord Mayor of London. Sir George and Susanna had three children. They had one son, who also became a baronet later, and two daughters. Sir George Wombwell passed away in 1780.
