George Richard Griffiths
George Richard Griffiths | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date London, England |
| Died | August 7, 1859 (aged 57) Castle Hill, Englefield Green, England |
| Occupation(s) | Merchant, banker |
| Years active | 1835–1853 |
| Known for | Merchant and commission enterprises; local director at the Union Bank of Australia; original shareholder in Colonial Sugar Refining Company |
George Richard Griffiths (25 March 1802 – 7 August 1859) was a merchant and banker, originally from England, who played a significant role in the commercial landscape of the Colony of New South Wales.
In Australia
Griffiths was born in London to Dr. John Griffiths, who served as surgeon to Queen Charlotte's Household, and his wife Elizabeth Hart. He reached Sydney on 5 June 1839 aboard the Mellish, arriving to take up duties with the Bank of Australasia. Having been appointed as the bank’s London secretary in 1835, he departed from this position in 1839 to launch his own merchant and commission enterprises—first operating under Griffiths, Gore & Co., and subsequently Griffiths, Fanning & Co. By 1843, he had assumed the role of local director at the Union Bank of Australia.
Griffiths obtained permission to graze livestock beyond Portland Bay in Victoria, and his company owned the Wooroowoolgen station situated on the Richmond River near the border with Queensland. He was an original shareholder in the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (now known as CSR Limited). His financial acumen was frequently called upon by legislative committees addressing matters such as the 1841 debenture bill and the economic downturn of 1843, which he attributed to speculative excesses driven by abundant bank credit. Although nominated to represent Melbourne in the Legislative Council, he declined the position. Griffiths returned to England in 1853 and passed away in 1859 at Castle Hill, Englefield Green.
Marriage and family
On 10 December 1836, Griffiths married Letitia Chatfield in England. Together they had eight sons and three daughters:
- Frederick Close (born 9 September 1838), who married Annette Agnes Willis; their children included notable Sydney socialites Gwendolin Winifred (born 1886) and Glynde Nesta (born 1889)
- George Neville, M.L.A. (born 23 January 1840)
- Charles Cecil (born 9 January 1842)
- William Russell (born 14 May 1845)
- Algernon Sydney, Brevet Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel (born 23 May 1847)
- Stanley (born 3 February 1849)
- Llewellyn (born 27 August 1851)
- Herbert Tyrrell (born 10 August 1853)
- Rose Mary Anne (born 4 November 1837)
- Letitia Frances (born 15 August 1843)
- Ada Blanche (born 26 March 1855)