Behrens, Sir Jacob

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Behrens, Sir Jacob

Portrait of Sir Jacob Behrens by Sowden.

Note in Sowden's notebook:
Sir Jacob Behrens was a native of Pyrmont, in Germany, where he was born in 1806. His father was a successful merchant in hamburg. He entered his father's office and became thoroughly conversant with the nature of his business. In the year 1834 Mr Jacob Behrens then in his 28th year came to Yorkshire and resided in Leeds. Here he commenced business as a merchant and partly as agent for his father.

He also establishes a business in Manchester. In Manchester he was joined by two of his brothers under the style of "Jacob Behrens". This branch also prospered but after the decease of Mr Behrens' brothers in 1870 the business was transferred to Mr Behrens and instill carried on. Meanwhile Mr Behrens in the year 1838 made Bradford his head quarters. At that time there were only a dozen foreign merchants in Bradford and although the business alone had largely increased since 1834, it was still magnificent. One reason for the increase was the great revolution in the worsted trade caused by the introduction of cotton warp about the year 1836. Prior to that date the worsted manufacture was a pure manufacture, the fabrics being alike in warp and weft.

The introduction of cotton warps giving a good weaving material at less cost than all wool, supplied a stimulus to the worsted trade of Bradford and district which was quickly manifested in the rapid prosperity and growth of Bradford. This brought about a great expansion of foreign trade and Mr Behrens along with other German merchants took the advantage afforded of cultivating the Continental Markets. As a commercial man he displayed ? aptitude & foresight and succeeded in establishing a business of great importance.

Mr Behrens was very active in promoting commercial affairs generally. He was regarded as an authority upon nearly all matters regarding the relations of British industry to distant countries, the revision of foreign tariffs and other details of a like complicated nature. he made many important communications to the Foreign office from time to time on foreign tariffs and his intricate knowledge ? in any projected revision, rendered Sir Jacob Behrens an authority with the permanent officials upon whom they could rely. His influence had been of untold value to the trade of this ?. As a ?, he was a master hand and it was familiarly said of that 'he lived on Blue books'. Chiefly at Mr Behrens' suggestions the Bradford Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1857.

Mr Behrens was elected a member of the first Council, and in 1869 was elected president which he also held on several subsequent years. He was also a member of the Associated Chamber of Commerce and appeared before a Commission in Paris as a witness from this ? in reference to the commercial treaty with France. he was mainly instrumental in procuring concessions on Bradford good. It was this public or national service which the Government recognised by conferring upon him the honour of Knighthood in 1882. He took an active part in the Bradford Philosophical Society. The Bradford Subscription Concerts were initiated on Mr Behren's counting house in 1865 and he was the Executive Council till the close of his life. He was one of the founders of Bradford High School and took an active part in furthering the revised scheme of the Bradford Grammar School and his activity in the election of the Bradford Technical College is a matter of history.

He was virtually the founder of the Eye and Ear Hospital in Bradford. Sir Jacob had long been a naturalised Englishman and though endeared to the land of his birth no man of foreign extraction could have had more at heart the welfare of England, or the prosperity of its commercial affairs. So Jacob Berens married in 1844 Miss Doris Hoheneman, the daughter of a banker at Mannheim. There are five surviving children, one daughter and four sons."

Year

1888

Creator

John Sowden

Image filename

sowden-39