Thomas Beale
Encyclopedia
Thomas Beale was a Scottish naturalist, opium speculator and general merchant operating in the Far East
during the 19th century.
and the cousin of Thomas Chaye Beale
.
He is first mentioned as one of the five unofficial foreign residents in Canton in 1796 as secretary to his older brother who was the Prussia
n consul. Thomas later became consul in his own right and served from 1798 until at least 1814. Both brothers were partners in the trading firm of Magniac & Co.
, which dealt in goods including opium, cotton and tea. The Prussian consulship eventually devolved upon Jardine, Matheson & Co.
through Hollingworth Magniac
, that firm's founder.
Along with brother Daniel and John Henry Cox
, Thomas was a partner in the firm of Cox & Beale around the turn of the 19th century.
Known for his hospitality, Beale's mansion in Macao included a garden with 2,500 potted plants and an aviary that became a must-see for Western visitors to Macau. The 40 by aviary contained hundreds of rare birds from China, Europe, Southeast Asia, and South America. George Vachell, chaplain to the East India Company
described a visit during which he saw about six hundred birds to his friend John Stevens Henslow
, Professor of Botany at Cambridge University and mentor to Charles Darwin
. When the missionary cum naturalist George Bennett
stopped in Macau during his Pacific voyage, Beale's garden and aviary made such an impression that he devoted forty-five pages of his travelogue to describing their contents. The house was described by a contemporary as "one of the finest of the old Portuguese houses ... on a narrow street known as Beale's Lane".
After offering opium futures
as security for loans in a falling market and investing millions of dollars in illicit deals in Brazil, he ended up owing the East India Company some 800,000 dollars. In 1816, Thomas was declared insolvent in the "most sensational bankruptcy of the period".
Despite his bankruptcy, Thomas subscribed 20 pounds sterling for a memorial to the late Lord Napier
, first Chief Superintendent of Trade at Canton following the abolition of the East India Company's monopoly on Far Eastern trade.
The body of Thomas was found washed ashore at Casilha Bay, near Macau in January 1841. after he allegedly committed suicide.
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
during the 19th century.
Biography
Thomas was the younger brother of Daniel BealeDaniel Beale
Daniel Beale was a Scottish merchant and fur trader active in the Far East mercantile centres of Bombay, Canton and Macau as well as at one time the Prussian consul in China.-Biography:...
and the cousin of Thomas Chaye Beale
Thomas Chaye Beale
Thomas Chaye Beale was a Scottish merchant operating in the Far East during the 19th century.-Biography:Thomas Chaye was a cousin of opium trader and merchant Daniel Beale and his brother Thomas Beale. As early as 1826 he was a partner in the trading firm of Magniac & Co. in Canton, China...
.
He is first mentioned as one of the five unofficial foreign residents in Canton in 1796 as secretary to his older brother who was the Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n consul. Thomas later became consul in his own right and served from 1798 until at least 1814. Both brothers were partners in the trading firm of Magniac & Co.
Hollingworth Magniac
Hollingworth Magniac was a merchant and connoisseur of medieval art. He was instrumental in the formation of Jardine Matheson, and Company, one of the largest trading houses in Asia during the 19th century.-Biography:...
, which dealt in goods including opium, cotton and tea. The Prussian consulship eventually devolved upon Jardine, Matheson & Co.
Jardine Matheson Holdings
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited often referred to as Jardines, is a multinational corporation incorporated in Bermuda and based in Hong Kong. While listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Singapore Exchange, the vast majority of Jardines shares are traded in Singapore...
through Hollingworth Magniac
Hollingworth Magniac
Hollingworth Magniac was a merchant and connoisseur of medieval art. He was instrumental in the formation of Jardine Matheson, and Company, one of the largest trading houses in Asia during the 19th century.-Biography:...
, that firm's founder.
Along with brother Daniel and John Henry Cox
John Henry Cox
John Henry Cox , charted Great Oyster Bay Maria Island and Marion Bay on the east coast of Tasmania in 1789, aboard his armed brig Mercury.- Early years :...
, Thomas was a partner in the firm of Cox & Beale around the turn of the 19th century.
Known for his hospitality, Beale's mansion in Macao included a garden with 2,500 potted plants and an aviary that became a must-see for Western visitors to Macau. The 40 by aviary contained hundreds of rare birds from China, Europe, Southeast Asia, and South America. George Vachell, chaplain to the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
described a visit during which he saw about six hundred birds to his friend John Stevens Henslow
John Stevens Henslow
John Stevens Henslow was an English clergyman, botanist and geologist. He is best remembered as friend and mentor to his pupil Charles Darwin.- Early life :...
, Professor of Botany at Cambridge University and mentor to Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
. When the missionary cum naturalist George Bennett
George Bennett (missionary)
George Bennet was a missionary originally from Sheffield, Yorkshire. He traveled to China, Southeast Asia, and India for the London Missionary Society, along with Reverend Daniel Tyerman....
stopped in Macau during his Pacific voyage, Beale's garden and aviary made such an impression that he devoted forty-five pages of his travelogue to describing their contents. The house was described by a contemporary as "one of the finest of the old Portuguese houses ... on a narrow street known as Beale's Lane".
After offering opium futures
Futures contract
In finance, a futures contract is a standardized contract between two parties to exchange a specified asset of standardized quantity and quality for a price agreed today with delivery occurring at a specified future date, the delivery date. The contracts are traded on a futures exchange...
as security for loans in a falling market and investing millions of dollars in illicit deals in Brazil, he ended up owing the East India Company some 800,000 dollars. In 1816, Thomas was declared insolvent in the "most sensational bankruptcy of the period".
Despite his bankruptcy, Thomas subscribed 20 pounds sterling for a memorial to the late Lord Napier
William Napier, 9th Lord Napier
William John Napier, 9th Lord Napier was a Royal Navy officer, politician and diplomat.- Early life :He was the son of Francis Napier, 8th Lord Napier and the father of Francis Napier, 10th Lord Napier and 1st Baron Ettrick . He served during the battle of Trafalgar as a midshipman...
, first Chief Superintendent of Trade at Canton following the abolition of the East India Company's monopoly on Far Eastern trade.
The body of Thomas was found washed ashore at Casilha Bay, near Macau in January 1841. after he allegedly committed suicide.