Sir Edmund Vestey, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Edmund Hoyle Vestey, 1st Baronet (3 February 1866 – 18 November 1953) was an English
food
producer and importer and shipowner, co-founder of Vestey Brothers.
Vestey was born in Liverpool
, the fifth child of provision merchant Samuel Vestey and younger brother of William Vestey
, later to become his business partner. He was educated at the Liverpool Institute and then joined his father's firm in 1883. He was soon given the management of his father's corned beef
cannery in Chicago
. In 1890 he joined William in his new business of importing refrigerated meat from Argentina
. The Union Cold Storage Company was to become one of the world's largest cold storage
operations. They began to diversify into other food products and in 1906 also began importing from China
. In 1909 they purchased two tramp steamer
s for the China trade and converted them into refrigerated ships. This was the beginning of the Blue Star Line, which was registered in 1911. They set up their own cattle
ranch
es in Argentina. By 1925 the Blue Star Line was the largest refrigerated fleet in the world. In the United Kingdom
the Vestey brothers owned 2,365 butcher
's shops. Edmund succeeded William as chairman in 1940 and held the post until his death in 1953.
He was created a Baronet
in the 1921 Birthday Honours for his services in supplying food to British troops during the First World War.
His great-great-grandson is actor Tom Hiddleston
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
producer and importer and shipowner, co-founder of Vestey Brothers.
Vestey was born in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, the fifth child of provision merchant Samuel Vestey and younger brother of William Vestey
William Vestey, 1st Baron Vestey
William Vestey, 1st Baron Vestey Bt was an English shipping magnate.William Vestey came from an old Liverpool family of traders. In 1876, at the age of seventeen, he was sent to Chicago by his father Samuel Vestey, a provisioner of Liverpool.William first managed a meat canning factory that was...
, later to become his business partner. He was educated at the Liverpool Institute and then joined his father's firm in 1883. He was soon given the management of his father's corned beef
Corned beef
Corned beef is a type of salt-cured beef products present in many beef-eating cultures. The English term is used interchangeably in modernity to refer to three distinct types of cured beef:...
cannery in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. In 1890 he joined William in his new business of importing refrigerated meat from Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. The Union Cold Storage Company was to become one of the world's largest cold storage
Refrigeration
Refrigeration is a process in which work is done to move heat from one location to another. This work is traditionally done by mechanical work, but can also be done by magnetism, laser or other means...
operations. They began to diversify into other food products and in 1906 also began importing from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. In 1909 they purchased two tramp steamer
Tramp steamer
A ship engaged in the tramp trade is one which does not have a fixed schedule or published ports of call. As opposed to freight liners, tramp ships trade on the spot market with no fixed schedule or itinerary/ports-of-call...
s for the China trade and converted them into refrigerated ships. This was the beginning of the Blue Star Line, which was registered in 1911. They set up their own cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
es in Argentina. By 1925 the Blue Star Line was the largest refrigerated fleet in the world. In the United Kingdom
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...
the Vestey brothers owned 2,365 butcher
Butcher
A butcher is a person who may slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat or any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat, poultry, fish and shellfish for sale in retail or wholesale food establishments...
's shops. Edmund succeeded William as chairman in 1940 and held the post until his death in 1953.
He was created a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in the 1921 Birthday Honours for his services in supplying food to British troops during the First World War.
His great-great-grandson is actor Tom Hiddleston
Tom Hiddleston
Thomas William "Tom" Hiddleston is an English actor. He is perhaps best known for playing Loki in the 2011 Marvel Studios film Thor.-Early life and education:...
.