Coutts and Co
Bankers, of The Strand, London, W.C.
1692 Established at the sign of the Three Crowns in London's Strand by John Campbell, a Scottish goldsmith.
1708 A fellow Scot and able banker, George Middleton, was taken into partnership
1712 Middleton assumed sole control upon Campbell's death.
Middleton later married Campbell's daughter, Mary, and quickly attracted a large aristocratic clientele.
1720 Middleton was forced to stop payment temporarily during the 1720 financial crisis, but subsequently recovered
1727 Took his brother-in-law, George Campbell, into partnership.
Stopped the original goldsmithing business and focussed on banking.
1744 Took his nephew, David Bruce, into partnership.
1751 George Campbell was sole proprietor.
1755 the business became known as Campbell & Coutts, following the entry into the partnership of James Coutts, the son of an Edinburgh banker, upon his marriage to George Campbell's niece.
1761 James took his younger brother, Thomas Coutts (1735-1822), into partnership as James & Thomas Coutts.
1775 James retired and the business adopted the title of Thomas Coutts & Co. Thomas laid the foundation of the firm's extensive connection amongst the nobility and gentry.
1822 the bank was renamed Coutts & Co. It was by then unquestionably one of the leading private banks in London and acted as banker to British and foreign royalty as well as to many important personalities
1840 the accounts and assets of the private bank of Hammersley, Greenwood & Brooksbank were acquired.
1892 Incorporated June 24th.
1904 the bank moved into new premises at 440 Strand
1914 Acquired the well-known private bank of Robarts, Lubbock & Co
1920 Acquired by National Provincial and Union Bank of England but continued to trade under its own name
Later became part of National Westminster Group
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Nat West Heritage