William Jardine

William Jardine was a Scottish entrepreneur who co-founded the Kong-based trading conglomerate Jardine Matheson & Co., today’s Jardine Matheson Holdings.

Born in Dumfriesshire, Jardine left Scotland after completing his medical degree at the University of Edinburgh and worked as a surgeon's mate on a ship. Realising that there was more money in trade, he became engaged in trade and exchange of goods between India and Britain. Eventually Jardine moved to Canton, China where he founded Jardine Matheson & Co. in the 1820s together with James Matheson. The company flourished thanks to the opium trade. He left China in 1839 and became an advisor to the British government. Jardine had a reputation as one of the richest and powerful men in country.