Henry Gesick

Henry Keswick was a British Conservative politician and businessman who served as a member of the Executive Council and Legislative Council of Hong Kong. He was fluent in Mandarin and Shanghainese.

Biography

Henry Keswick was the eldest and only surviving son of William Keswick of the Keswick family and his first wife Amelia Sophie Dubeux. He was born in Shanghai in 1870. He was educated at Eton College and graduated with a bachelor's degree from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1892, later obtaining a master's degree. On 25 February 1893, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. In March 1900, he left Cove with his battalion to fight in the Second Boer War. He was later promoted to captain, but did not remain in that rank after the war. During World War I, he rejoined the 3rd Battalion until it was disbanded.

Keswick later joined Jardine, Matheson & Co., working in its New York office for two years before moving to Hong Kong in 1895. He later moved to Shanghai, where he served as Chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Council from 24 August 1906 to May 1907.

During his time in Hong Kong, he served as an unofficial member of both the Legislative and Executive Councils of Hong Kong. He was also vice-chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Whampoa Dock, and other companies.

In 1911, he returned to Britain and represented Hong Kong at the coronation of King George V. He then remained in Britain, becoming chairman of the Far Eastern Committee of the London Chamber of Commerce and a member of the London Committee of HSBC. In 1912, he was elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament.

In 1922, he returned to Hong Kong and the Far East by yacht. He died in London on 29 November 1928.

Family

In 1900, Henry Keswick married Ida Wynifred Johnston, and the couple had three children.