No. 1458
William Barwell
d. 1769Merchant and governorEurope · 1769Most named place: Bengal (approximate)
William Barwell was a leading agent of the East India Company and served as President of Bengal in the 18th century.
As a member of the English East India Company, he had the opportunity to profit from the company’s business activities and to farm the salt which brought him during a lifetime a £400,000 fortune. Among assets in his ownership were a house and estate in Surrey valued at £10,500, as well as sum of £106,000 in Bank stock and annuities, South Sea stock and East India stock.
His fortune would represent 0.26% of the then £150m net national income. Today's equivalent would be over £2.8bn.
