Augustine Heard

Augustine Heard was an American merchant and founder of the Augustine Heard and Co. firm in Canton, China.

Heard was born in a wealthy mercantile Massachusetts’ family involved in trade with the West Indies and China. He built a successful career of sea captain and merchant working for Ebenezer Francis, one of the most prominent businessman of Boston visiting ports of the Mediterranean, Far East and South America. In 1830 at age of 45 he went to Canton as a partner in the firm of Samuel Russell and Co., which traded in silk, tea and cotton but was also the leading Turkish opium dealer in China. In 1840 he founded his own firm, Augustine Heard and Co. which became one of the largest firms operating in China involved in mercantile, banking and shipping ventures.