George Courtauld (1761–1823) was the founder of Courtaulds which was to become the UK's largest manufacturer of mourning crape.
Apprenticed to a Spitalfields silk weaver in 1775, George Courtauld first worked on his own as silk throwster.[1] Between 1785 and 1794 he made a number of visits to America.[1] In 1794 he established his own textile business at Pebmarsh under the name George Courtald & Co.[1] However by 1816 the business was in financial difficulty: that year George's son Samuel took over the business and built it into the UK's largest manufacturer of mourning crape.[1]
George was an ardent Unitarian.[1]
He retired to America where he died in 1823.[1]
George was born on 19 September 1761 to Samuel Courtauld and Louisa Ogier.[2]
George Courtauld married Ruth Minton[3] on 10 July 1789. Their children were: