Person | Male

William Fortnum

Categories: Commerce

Image source: Fortnum & Mason archivist

The records of the founders of Fortnum and Mason are not too clear. In 1707 a William Fortnum is said to have become a footman to Queen Anne and at about the same time to have founded a grocery business in Duke Street jointly with his landlord, Hugh Mason. The first documented reference to the business is in 1756 when it moved premises to Piccadilly.

London Walks describes the growth of the business through the involvement of William's grandson Charles (1738-1815) who was footman to Queen Charlotte.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
William Fortnum

Commemorated ati

Fortnum & Mason

From the shop's website: "1964 saw a new landmark added to the front of the ...

See other memorials in this area

Other Subjects

Gatti family

Swiss-Italian family. Restaurateurs, music hall, theatre and electricity supply entrepreneurs. Four generations of note, all born in Dongio, Val di Blenio, Ticino, Switzerland: Carlo; Agostino (18...

Group, Commerce, Food & Drink, Theatre, Switzerland

1 memorial

Trustees of Borough Market

Borough Market is a charitable trust, run by a board of volunteer trustees. They ensure that the activities of the market meet the trust's clearly defined responsibilities.

Group, Commerce

2 memorials

Lord Wandsworth

Banker, Member of Parliament and philanthropist. Born Sydney James Stern in London. He worked in his father's law firm, before becoming Member of Parliament for Stowmarket. Became Baron Wandsworth ...

Person, Benefactor, Commerce, Politics & Administration

2 memorials

Baring Bros & Co Ltd

Bank. Founded as the John and Francis Baring Company. Despite surviving the Great Depression and two world wars, it was brought down due to unauthorized trading by its head derivatives trader Nick ...

Group, Commerce

1 memorial

The Bell, Carter Lane

From this inn, on 25 October 1598, Richard Quiney wrote a letter to William Shakespeare. This letter, the only one addressed to Shakespeare that has survived, is held by the museum at Strafford. Th...

Building, Commerce, Food & Drink

1 memorial