Sir David Yule, 1st Baronet

For the Canadian field hockey player, see David Yule (field hockey).

Sir David Yule, 1st Baronet (4 August 1858 – 3 July 1928) was a Scottish businessman based in India.

Early life

David was born in Edinburgh, the son of David Yule and his wife Margaret. His father was a writer who also worked as a cashier at the Sasine Office, Register House, Edinburgh. David was educated in Britain and went into the family business, which was trade with India, then the "jewel in the crown" of the British Empire.

Career

David joined Andrew Yule and Company, a conglomerate with diversified interests, which was founded by both his uncles, Andrew Yule and George Yule.

His uncle George died childless in 1892 and his uncle Andrew (whose only child, Annie, was David's wife) died in 1902. At this point, the entire Yule conglomerate came under David's control.

In 1919, David Yule and Thomas Catto, 1st Baron Catto formed Yule Catto and Company Ltd, which is now known as Yule Catto & Co. plc and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Among his other business interests were directorships of Midland Bank, Mercantile Bank of India, Vickers Ltd., the Royal Exchange Assurance Company and ownership of the Daily Chronicle newspaper, which David purchased from Lloyd George.

David Yule was knighted by King George V in India in 1911 and was created a Baronet, of Hugli River in Calcutta, in 1922. He died on 3 July 1928. His baronetcy lapsed at his death for lack of an heir.

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography judged him "arguably the most important businessman in India" and quoted his obituary in The Times as "one of the wealthiest men, if not the wealthiest man, in the country".[1]

Personal life

In 1900, David married his cousin Annie Henrietta, eldest daughter of his uncle Andrew. They had one child, a daughter called Gladys Yule (1903–1957). In 1925, they commissioned as their family home Hanstead House in Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire. Here, David set up a very successful horse breeding farm for the Arabian breed, known as Hanstead Stud.

References

  1. ↑ Russell, Iain F. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

External links