Sassoon family

Notes:

Traced origins in business in India to David Sassoon, 1792-1864, a Baghdad merchant who re-established his family's business at Bombay [Mumbai] in the early 1830s. Developed there a highly successful international merchanting and agency house business with extensive industrial and banking interests and branches also in China and Japan. Became a leader in the opium trade between India and China. Opened a London branch in 1858 and later a Manchester branch and thereafter the business gravitated to Britain, especially after 1870. Its was incorporated in London in 1901 but remained in Sassoon family ownership, being managed by successive members of the Sassoon family. Elias D Sassoon, 1820-80, David's son, opened a rival family house, E D Sassoon & Co, in late 1860s, which came to overshadow David Sassoon & Co. This also was a leader in the India China opium trade and came to have major Indian industrial, especially textile production, interests and, from 1930s, banking interests in Hong Kong. Incorporated 1921 but never headquartered in London. Both businesses continued into latter half of 20th century