George Courtauld (industrialist, born 1761) explained

George Courtauld (1761–1823) was the founder of Courtaulds which was to become the UK's largest manufacturer of mourning crape.

Career

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]

Family

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:

Notes and References

  1. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/46847?docPos=3 Samuel Courtauld (George Courtauld's son) at Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
  2. Web site: Louisa Courtauld 1729–1807. National Museum of Women in the Arts. 13 September 2015.
  3. Proceedings of the Huguenot Society of London: Volume 11. Huguenot Society of London. 1917