Norton, John, & Sons

Sectors:

  • Merchanting & trade, international & inland Tobacco trading & trade

Notes:

Leading merchant house in the London / Virginia tobacco consignment trade. Traced origins to Hatley & Flowerdewe of Virginia which John Norton, d 1777, formerly of London, joined in c1740. c1742 reorganised as Flowerdewe & Norton, the former partner being based in London. Emerged as a leader in the trade with John Norton acquiring substantial wealth and prestige in North America. Subsequently returned to London when his oldest son, John Hatley Norton, d1797, took charge of the Virginia business in 1767. In 1768 known as John Norton & Son and, from 1774, as Sons. The firm's participation in the tobacco trade ended in 1775 after which it encountered severe financial difficulties with the onset of the War of American Independence.

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