Philip Rundell

Born of a large Somerset family, Rundell was apprenticed to a Bath jeweller at 14. After serving his apprenticeship, he moved to the City of London. Within three or four years the young Rundell was a partner in the firm. In 1786, Rundell bought his partner out and took on a new partner, John Bridge, and they worked in harmony for forty years. In 1798, Rundell purchased John Duval, Sons & Co, which gave Rundell & Bridge the Crown jewellership. By the time he retired in 1823, Rundell had built the firm into a dominant position in the jewellery business.

He died in 1827, worth around £1.2m, equivalent to 0.37% of the £321m net national income. In today's money, that would be £4.1bn.