Samuel John Blackwell

Samuel John Blackwell was a British businessman, farmer and philanthropist.
== Early life ==
Samuel John Blackwelll was born on November 29th, 1841, in Soho, London to Thomas Blackwell (businessman), co-founder of Crosse & Blackwell and Jane Ann Bernasconi, a daughter of Francis Bernasconi. He was one of three children and the family lived at the Cedars Estate in Harrow Weald.
Crosse and Blackwell was first business in the world to mass produce jam and it had become successful in export trade and producing 70 varieties of sauces, pickles and soup.
In 1851, Samuel is recorded as living at 21 York Terrace, Westminster with his parents and sibling. By that time Crosse & Blackwell employed 126 people, with their headquarters at Manor House, 21 Soho Square. By 1868, the business expanded to include premises in Sutton Place, George Yards, Denmark Street, Stacey Street, Dean Street and Earl Street by 1868. 
== Career ==
By 1860, Crosse & Blackwell was leading preserved foods producer in the world. By 1861, Samuel and his brother Thomas were working for the business which had expanded to include premises in Sutton Place, Hackney, Denmark Street, Stacey Street, London, Dean Street and George Yards, Earl Street by 1868. By 1870, Crosse & Blackwell had over 1,000 employees.
In 1865 Samuel became a Lieutenant in the 18th Middlesex Rifle Volunteers.
In 1875–6, the company commisioned a stable complex at 111 Charing Cross Road by the architect Robert Lewis Roumieu
In 1877, his father Thomas Blackwell purchased Oxhey Hall Farm, a 404 acre. 
When his father died in 1879, he inherited The Manor House, Chipperfield and Oxhey Hal. He was living at Brookshill House, Harrow Weald.
In the 1881 UK census, Blackwell listed himself as a “Preserved Provision Manufacturer employing 654 men and boys & 552 women.” In 1887 Crosse & Blackwell was described as possibly the largest employer of labour in London.
In 1892, Crosse & Blackwell was converted into a 'Limited company with a capital of ₤568,700. He was a director with a salary of ₤1,000 per annum. Thomas Francis Blackwell was the first Chairman and Edmund Crosse was Vice Chariman. Samuel became the second Vice Chairman. 
In 1893 he was elected Alderman for Harrow, Middlesex. He was a director of the Colne Valley Water Company.
By 1898, the company was one of the largest food manufacturers in the world and employed over 2,000 people. His son Francis Samuel Blackwell became a director in 1901. 
His sons Robert, Charles and Middleton Joseph Blackwell|William formed Blackwell Brothers Ltd. in 1908, a successful Stockjobbing firm, which eventually merged with Wedd Durlacher in 1974 to become the largest Stockjobbing firm on the London Stock Exchange.
Before the First World War, Crosse & Blackwell had established a plant in Hamburg.
In 1919, the company merged with James Keiller & Son. and E. Lazenby & Son Ltd, who made preserves and sauces. The agreement allowed the three companies to carry on with complete autonomy.
By 1920, the company had an estimated capital of over 10 million pounds. 
Some complained about the growing control of Crosse & Blackwell over the food provisions market. The British Parliament was advised that “Any further extension of so large a combination as this should be carefully watched in view of its possible ultimate effect on the market.” 
In 1922, Crosse & Blackwell began producing Branston pickle.
By 1930, the company had factories in Baltimore, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Paris, Toronto and Hamburg.
== Philanthropy ==
In 1918 he lent Brookshill to the British Red Cross for use as a convalescent hospital for officers. 
He donated Blackwell Hall at Harrow Weald#Geography and locale|All Saints Church, Harrow Weald in memory of their two sons killed in the 1914-1918 war.
In 1922 he built a social club in Chipperfield in memory of his sons Charles and William Gordon, who enlisted together in The Honourable Artillery Company and were killed in action. Today the club is called ‘Blackwell’s’, and is a café, which stands next to the Common, over 100 acres, gifted to the Local Authority by his son Robert in 1936.
== Personal Life ==
He married Elizabeth Howard and had eleven children including:
* Richard Giraud Blackwell b.1866 d.1951
* Francis Samuel Blackwell (1869-1951) married Esther Gwendolina Brooke and had issue including: Phillip Blackwell
* Louisa Mary (1872-1944) married Lowes Dalbiac Luard
* Robert Arthur Blackwell (1876-: Stockjobber, and grandfather of Nick Blackwell
* Charles Blackwell (1883-1915): 
* William Gordon Blackwell (1885-1916): married Irene O'Malley and had issue including: Middleton Joseph Blackwell
On 22nd December 1919, Mr Blackwell made a will appointing his sons, Richard, Francis, Thomas and Robert, as executors and trustees. He died in 1923.
Category:British businesspeople
Category:Farmers
Category:Philanthropists