Sir John Pound, 1st Baronet

Sir John Pound, 1st Baronet (27 June 1829 – 18 September 1915), was an English businessman, the owner of luggage manufacturer and retailer John Pound & Co. of London, and Lord Mayor of London in 1904/05. He married Harriet Lulham, daughter of Thomas Lulham, on 3 December 1856. The couple had six children: John (died after six months); Harriet; John; Annie; Jessie; and Percy. Pound was educated at Christ's Hospital school, Newgate from 1838 to 1844.

John Pound & Co.

The business of John Pound & Co. was started by John Pound's father, Henry Pound and his partner Mr. Tasker, in Leadenhall Street, London in 1823. Pound & Tasker was founded as a manufacturer high-quality trunks and packing cases, selling via a single manufacturing premises/shop.

After the death of Mr Tasker in 1857, Henry apprenticed his eldest son John and renamed the business Henry Pound & Son. After the death of his father in 1861, John renamed the business John Pound & Co., and began building it into the biggest business of its kind in the United Kingdom. By 1871 the company had: three factories; eight distribution warehouses; and five shops in central London at Leadenhall Street, Regent Street, Oxford Street, Piccadilly, and Tottenham Court Road. Now, as well as luggage and dressing cases, the company made hunting bags, hat cases, writing cases and purses.

After he became Lord Mayor of London in 1904, John handed the business over to his two elder sons. The business continued to trade as an independent retailer, until it was taken over by the John Lewis Partnership in the early 1950s. Stuart Eggleton acquired the John Pound brand from John Lewis in 2013.

Other positions As well as his successful business, Pound built up a series of civic positions. He oversaw the switch of London's mass public transport from horse-drawn trams to self-propelled omnibuses.

On 29 September 1904, it was announced that he would replace Sir James Ritchie as Lord Mayor of London. On 3 August 1905, he was created 1st Baronet Pound, of Stanmore, Middlesex.

Awards

From foreign monarchies and governments, he received the following decorations: Grand Officer, Order of Isabella the Catholic of Spain Commander, Order of the Rising Sun of Japan Légion d'honneur Grand Officer, Order of Christ of Portugal