Nichol Latimer

Nichol Latimer (1830 – 28 September 1865) a British businessman who was the publisher of The North China Herald, which was the most influential newspaper in treaty port China.

Family

His father was the farmer David Latimer (b. 1781) of Berwickstown, Kirklinton, and later of Kirklinton Hall, and later of Leeds. whose wine is described as ‘Latimer’s immortal tun’ in the Oxford University poem 'Brasenose Ale', and who was vintner to The Duke of Marlborough. of Arthuret, Longtown, Cumbria, and later of Leeds. Anne Moody was a ladies' school founder, of Warwick Place, Leeds. His maternal uncle was the high church clergyman, theologian, classical scholar, and freemason, Clement Moody, Vicar of Newcastle.

His niece who was the daughter of the solicitor John Latimer (b. 1827, Kirklinton Hall, d. aged 54 years), of Horsfall and Latimer Solicitors, Park Row, Leeds, and of St. Mark's Villas, Leeds, married Colonel Thomas Moody ADC Kt.'s grandson Colonel Richard Stanley Hawks Moody CB.

His nephew Hugh Graham Latimer (b. 1863) was articled to his father as a solicitor, served as a Lieutenant in 3rd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, and inherited his father's farming, before emigrating to Almyra, Arkansas, by 1904.

He worked for the merchants Smith, Kennedy & Co. before he founded his own trading company, Nichol Latimer & Co (which was later renamed Latimer, Little, & Co.), at Foochow Road Shanghai in 1864. He also was the manager of the Shanghai Steam Navigation Co. of Russell & Company, which was the largest American trading company during Quing dynasty China, until his death.

He was the publisher of The North China Herald which was the most influential newspaper in China.

He was a member of the Royal Asiatic Society China. where his grave ID No. is 1064.