Robert Shewan
Robert Gordon Shewan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date London, United Kingdom |
| Died | February 14, 1934 (aged 74) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1881–early 20th century |
| Known for | Co-founder of Shewan, Tomes & Co., director of Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, founder of Green Island Cement Company and China Light and Power Company |
Robert Gordon Shewan (13 November 1859 – 14 February 1934) was a prominent Scottish entrepreneur operating in Hong Kong.
Early life
Born in London on 13 November 1859, Robert had a twin brother named William. Their parents were Andrew Shewan (1820–1873), a seasoned master mariner, and Jane (née Thomson) Shewan (1822–1886).
Career
In 1881, Shewan relocated to Hong Kong to work for Russell & Company, a major trading enterprise in the Far East at the time. Following the company's closure in 1891, he partnered with Charles Alexander Tomes, descendant of merchant David Hadden, to purchase its assets and establish Shewan, Tomes & Co. in 1895. This firm was instrumental in founding the Green Island Cement Company and the China Light and Power Company, which provided electricity to the Kowloon area. Eventually, Shewan was removed from his role at China Light and Power by its dominant shareholder, the Kadoorie family. Additionally, he held directorships at the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation along with several other local enterprises.
Shewan gained election in 1902 as the representative of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce on the Legislative Council. He also fulfilled duties as Consul for Chile within Hong Kong. During the 1925 Canton-Hong Kong strike, he adopted a stringent position, encouraging employers to discipline striking Chinese workers and cautioning his clerical staff that failure to return promptly from absence would lead to permanent termination.
Personal life
He was wed to Dorothy "Dolly" Kate Lucas (deceased 1961), daughter of William Lucas and previously married to James Marke Wood.
Robert Gordon Shewan passed away on 14 February 1934 and was interred at the Hong Kong Cemetery located in Happy Valley, Hong Kong.