Complex sentence: Following on from that his firms built 38 steamers, were established in coal exporting in Newcastle, Cardiff and London, George was the largest steamship owner on the north-east coast, and appointed Vice-Consul for Belgium.
Split into simpler sentences: Following on from that, his firms built 38 steamers and were established in coal exporting in Newcastle, Cardiff and London. George became then the largest steamship owner on the north-east coast, and was appointed Vice-Consul for Belgium.