Carl Joachim Hambro (banker)
Carl Joachim Hambro | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1807-11-23 Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Died | 1877-11-27 Milton Abbey, Dorset, England |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, banker |
| Known for | Founder of Hambros Bank |
Baron Carl Joachim Hambro (23 November 1807 – 27 November 1877) was a Danish-born financier who established Hambros Bank, which became one of the foremost investment banks in the United Kingdom.
Early life
Hambro entered the world in 1807 in Copenhagen, Denmark, as the son of Marianne von Halle and Joseph Hambro (1780–1848). His lineage traced back to Rendsburg, Schleswig-Holstein, where his grandfather, Calmer Hambro (1747–1806), had launched a trading enterprise in Copenhagen in 1779. At the age of seven, Carl was placed under the care of Danish zoologist Johan Reinhardt and his spouse. In 1822, he underwent baptism and confirmation into Christianity, in accordance with his foster parents' wishes.
Career
Following his school completion in 1824, Hambro acquired professional experience through positions in Le Havre, Antwerp, Bremen, and North America. He returned to Copenhagen in 1829 to assist his father with their international trading firm. The family moved to London in 1832, where they established Hambros Bank in 1839. During the 1850s, Hambro played a pivotal role in arranging several British Government loan stock issuances, significantly contributing to the bank’s expansion. In recognition of his status, he was granted the title of Baron by King Frederik VII of Denmark in 1851.
Personal life
In 1833, Hambro wed Caroline Gostenhofer, and together they had three sons: Charles J. T. Hambro, Percival Hambro, and Everard Hambro. He purchased Milton Abbey in Dorset as his home in 1852. His second marriage took place in 1861 to Eliza Frances Turner (1824/25–1919), the widow of Hervey Harris Greathe(a)d, a political agent and Commissioner of Meerut. She was the daughter of Thomas Jacob Turner from Hampshire. Hambro passed away at Milton Abbey in 1877.
Legacy
The ownership of Hambros Bank passed to his grandson Charles Eric Hambro, son of Everard Hambro. Another grandson, Major General Sir Percival Otway Hambro, had a distinguished military career during both the Second Boer War and the First World War.