Sir David Yule, 1st Baronet

For the Canadian field hockey player, see David Yule (field hockey).

Sir David Yule, 1st Baronet (4 August 1858 – 3 July 1928) was a Scottish businessman based in India.

Early life

David was born in Edinburgh, the son of David Yule and his wife Margaret. His father was a writer who also worked as a cashier at the Sasine Office, Register House, Edinburgh. David was educated in Britain and went into the family business, which was trade with India, then the "jewel in the crown" of the British Empire.

Career

David joined Andrew Yule and Company, a conglomerate with diversified interests, which was founded by both his uncles, Andrew Yule and George Yule.

His uncle George died childless in 1892. His uncle Andrew had a child, Annie Henrietta; David married this cousin in 1900. Andrew died in 1902 and at this point, the entire Yule conglomerate came under David's control.

In 1919, David Yule and Thomas Catto, 1st Baron Catto formed Yule Catto and Company Ltd, which is now known as Synthomer and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. Among his other business interests were directorships of Midland Bank, Mercantile Bank of India, Vickers Limited, the Royal Exchange Assurance Company and ownership of the Daily Chronicle newspaper, which he purchased from Lloyd George.

David Yule was knighted by King George V in India on 4 January 1912[1] and was created a baronet, of Hugli River in Calcutta, on 30 January 1922.[2] He died on 3 July 1928. His baronetcy lapsed at his death for lack of an heir.

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography judged him "arguably the most important businessman in India" and quoted his obituary in The Times as "one of the wealthiest men, if not the wealthiest man, in the country".[3]

Personal life

David and Annie Yule had one child, a daughter called Gladys Yule (1903–1957). In 1925, they commissioned as their family home Hanstead House in Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire. Here, the two women set up a very successful horse breeding farm for the Arabian breed, known as the Hanstead Stud. Annie Yule also commissioned one of the largest private yachts ever built in the UK, the Nahlin, which weighed 1,574 tons, was 300 feet (91 m) long and was said to have cost £250,000.[4]

References

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28614. p. 4036. 4 June 1912.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 32668. p. 2916. 11 April 1922.
  3. ↑ Russell, Iain F. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
  4. ↑ Tinniswood, Adrian (2016). The Long Weekend: Life in the English Country House Between the Wars. London: Jonathan Cape. p. 220. ISBN 9780224099455.


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