Ernest Debenham
Encyclopedia
Sir Ernest Ridley Debenham, 1st Baronet (26 May 1865 – 25 December 1952), was a British
businessman. He was responsible for the considerable expansion of the family's retail and wholesale drapery firm between 1892 and 1927.
Educated at Marlborough College
and Trinity College, Cambridge
, he joined the successful business in Wigmore Street
, London
, which had been run by his grandfather and father. His restructuring activities led to the splitting of the manufacturing from the retail side of the business, under the name Debenham & Freebody
(Freebody was the maiden name of his grandmother). He effected a merger with Marshall & Snelgrove
as well as a takeover of Harvey Nichols
. He was noted for his paternalistic attitude towards his staff, providing medical and educational support. He was also a pioneer in the dairy industry.
On 8 November 1892 he married Cicely Kenrick (1869 - 1950), daughter of William Kenrick. The couple had eight children.
He was elected unopposed at a bye-election on 28 February 1912 for the Municipal Reform
party to represent the Marylebone East
division on the London County Council
.
On his retirement he sold most of his shares in the firm for £1.8M, so severing his family's connections with the retail chain that still bears his name. He was created a Baronet, of Bladen in the County of Dorset
, in 1931.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businessman. He was responsible for the considerable expansion of the family's retail and wholesale drapery firm between 1892 and 1927.
Educated at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, he joined the successful business in Wigmore Street
Wigmore Street
Wigmore Street is a street in the City of Westminster, in the West End of London, England. The street runs for about 600 yards parallel and to the north of Oxford Street between Portman Square to the west and Cavendish Square to the east....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, which had been run by his grandfather and father. His restructuring activities led to the splitting of the manufacturing from the retail side of the business, under the name Debenham & Freebody
Debenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
(Freebody was the maiden name of his grandmother). He effected a merger with Marshall & Snelgrove
Marshall & Snelgrove
Marshall & Snelgrove was a department store on the north side of Oxford Street, London, on the corner with Vere Street founded by James Marshall. The company is now part of Debenhams.-History:...
as well as a takeover of Harvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols, founded in 1813, is an upmarket department store chain. Its original store is in London. Founded in 1813 as a linen shop, it sells many international brands of clothing for women and men, fashion accessories, beauty products, wine and food...
. He was noted for his paternalistic attitude towards his staff, providing medical and educational support. He was also a pioneer in the dairy industry.
On 8 November 1892 he married Cicely Kenrick (1869 - 1950), daughter of William Kenrick. The couple had eight children.
He was elected unopposed at a bye-election on 28 February 1912 for the Municipal Reform
Municipal Reform Party
The Municipal Reform Party was a local party allied to the parliamentary Conservative Party in the County of London. The party contested elections to both the London County Council and metropolitan borough councils of the county from 1906 to 1945.-Formation:...
party to represent the Marylebone East
Marylebone East (UK Parliament constituency)
Marylebone East was a borough constituency located in the Metropolitan Borough of St Marylebone, in London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system....
division on the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
.
On his retirement he sold most of his shares in the firm for £1.8M, so severing his family's connections with the retail chain that still bears his name. He was created a Baronet, of Bladen in the County of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, in 1931.
Sources
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography