Herbert Edward Dunhill: Difference between revisions

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After Alfred, tired of family life, (supposedly) ran off with a fisherman's daughter, his brother, Herbert Edward Dunhill, better known to his family as Uncle Bertie, led the empire. Mary reports on her book, a bit of her uncle's personality and how he was invited to join the business by his father:

<blockquote>"One of the visitors who occasionally came to Woodlands was Uncle Herbert or Bertie, as we called him, Father’s youngest brother and his junior by twelve years, who was soon to take an important part in the business. He had been a territorial member of the Artists Rifles but, on account of the tubercular condition that was to afflict him for most of his life, he had been declared unfit for active service.  

As soon as we were allowed to leave the table Lilian and I ran back into the garden. We had plenty to talk about. It was dusk when Mother called us in. Father and Uncle Bertie were still in the dining-room, bent over papers and plans." Dunhill, Mary, Our Family Business (The Bodley Head - Great Britain, 1979).</blockquote>

[[File:New_Doc_2019-12-12_09.11.23_4.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Herbert and his wife, Violet Dunhill, in 1908.]]

Balfour reported that Herbert was involved in the motoring accessories business along with his brother Alfred, but it's not clear when this involvement started but ceased in 1905 after they resigned from the company (Alfred still a prominent shareholder until December 1908, over a year after he had started trading as a tobacconist). For the latter half of 1908, the rates were payable by ‘Dunhill Bros Ltd’, Alfred’s youngest brother Herbert having decided to join him in the business. But the partnership dissolved almost immediately and the company never traded After that. Herbert starts his own business, in north London - were two modest tobacconists’ shops. From the end of 1908 up to 1911, Herbert negotiated tobaccos, but we couldn't find detailed information about this activity and if it had any relation to Alfred's business. He was considered by his family members as an experienced businessman. He takes over the management of Alfred's company in 1912, leaving him to take the creative processes. After Alfred's retirement, he assumes a central role in the administration - position that he occupies until 1950.