Hollingworth Magniac

Hollingworth Magniac (1786–1867) was a merchant and connoisseur of medieval art. He briefly ran the free trading firm of Magniac & Co. which was later to become Jardine, Matheson & Co., one of the largest trading houses in Asia during the 19th century.

Biography Magniac was born on 15 April 1786 in Colworth House, Bedfordshire, the son of Colonel Francis Magniac (1751-1823) and Frances Attwood. goldsmith who exported clocks and watches to China. In order to keep an eye on his business interests there, he dispatched his son Charles to Canton where he went into partnership with Daniel Beale, an experienced China merchant, forming Beale, Magniac & Co. sometime before 1814.

Before the removal of the East India Company's monopoly on British trade with India and the Far East in 1834, the Scots-born seaman John Reid, a partner in Cox & Beale, discovered a way to circumvent the East India Company's jurisdiction. He took out Austrian citizenship and gained an appointment as Chinese Consul from the Emperor of Austria. Wishing to leave Asia, Hollingworth went in search of competent partners to join his firm. whose business reputation was already well known throughout Asia. Magniac and Jardine also invited James Matheson to join the firm. Magniac returned to England in 1828 with the firm in the hands of two of the most talented traders in Asia. Contrary to the practice at the time of retiring partners removing their capital from the firm, Hollingworth left his capital in trust to Jardine and Matheson. The firm remained as Magniac and Co. until 1832, which would go on to become the largest trading company in Asia and later a Fortune 500 listed company.

Magniac married Helen Sampson, daughter of Peter Sampson, in 1827.

Medieval art collection Magniac's collection of medieval art included Christ Crowned with Thorns by Hieronymus Bosch, now in the National Gallery in London. He also owned a fake "15th-century" Swiss or German coffer now in the Victoria and Albert Museum as well as the Reliquary from the Shrine of St. Oda which later passed to his son Charles.

Issue Charles Magniac, Member of Parliament for St. Ives 1868-74 and for Bedford 1880-85 Fanny Eliza Magniac (c 1827–5 May 1903)