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George Hammond

Mayor of Deal 1829 & 1837

Following his father’s death in 1810 George entered into the shipping agency business that his grandfather John sen. had established by the early 1800’s. 

After his Uncle John jr. retired in 1814 George became the sole partner trading under the name GEORGE HAMMOND & Co. 

The agency was then based at 101 Beach Street which was opposite the present day pier. 

Business wasn’t always easy and once following a visit to a ship offshore GEORGE had to be rescued.

SHIPPING AGENT

A shipping agent’s main role was to secure cargoes for ship owners but, with the Goodwin Sands and the sheer number of ships off the coast both causing regular collisions and wrecks, salvage was an important part of their business too. Insurance would usually replace a ship’s immediate needs, such as an anchor, but any salvage that turned up at a later date was then auctioned off. George was also an Insurance agent for Royal Exchange. 

For continued prosperity George realised he needed to expand his business so in 1838 he opened a shipping agency office in Ramsgate and another in Margate in 1848. It was in Margate that George became an agent for Lloyds.

COAL MERCHANT

George was also a coal merchant and on all of his children’s baptism records, between 1825 and 1841, he gives this as his occupation.

His yard was in Albert Square, next to today’s The Saracens Head pub, this is also where GEORGE and his young family lived until about 1829 when they then moved to the Beach Street address. 

At this time coal was deposited directly onto the beach by the collier brigs it was then hauled off the beach up to the merchants yards.

MAYOR AND PUBLIC SERVANT

Business success brought respectability which led to opportunities for public service. George served as a J.P., a magistrate and was vice consuls for many countries that traded through Deal. 

In 1829 George took office as Mayor for the first time and then again in 1837. 

When Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the town in 1842 he was amongst the local dignitaries who welcomed them. As a member of Deal’s Public Improvement Committee, in the 1830’s, he helped change the town into a seaside resort by planning and building of the seawall and esplanade. 

George died in 1875 and though no longer a family business GEORGE HAMMOND PLC is still trading today as a shipping agency

SHIPPING AGENT

A shipping agent’s main role was to secure cargoes for ship owners but, with the Goodwin Sands and the sheer number of ships off the coast both causing regular collisions and wrecks, salvage was an important part of their business too. Insurance would usually replace a ship’s immediate needs, such as an anchor, but any salvage that turned up at a later date was then auctioned off. GEORGE was also an Insurance agent for Royal Exchange. 

For continued prosperity GEORGE realised he needed to expand his business so in 1838 he opened a shipping agency office in Ramsgate and another in Margate in 1848. It was in Margate that GEORGE became an agent for Lloyds.

COAL MERCHANT

George was also a coal merchant and on all of his children’s baptism records, between 1825 and 1841, he gives this as his occupation.

His yard was in Albert Square, next to today’s The Saracens Head Pub, this is also where George and his young family lived until about 1829 when they then moved to the Beach Street address. 

At this time coal was deposited directly onto the beach by the collier brigs it was then hauled off the beach up to the merchants yards.

MAYOR AND PUBLIC SERVANT

Business success brought respectability which led to opportunities for public service. GEORGE served as a J.P., a magistrate and was vice consuls for many countries that traded through Deal. 

In 1829 George took office as Mayor for the first time and then again in 1837. 

When Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the town in 1842, he was amongst the local dignitaries who welcomed them. As a member of Deal’s Public Improvement Committee, in the 1830s, he helped change the town into a seaside resort by planning and building the seawall and esplanade. 

George died in 1875 and though no longer a family business GEORGE HAMMOND PLC. is still trading today as a shipping agency.