The Hong Kong family, originally from Scotland, operates conglomerate Jardine Matheson and its nine subsidiaries with commercial interests in automotive, property, restaurants, insurance and luxury hotels. The business dynasty began in 1832, by Scots William Jardine and James Matheson, who founded the trading company JM&Co. in Guangzhou, China.
William Jardine’s sister, Jean, married Thomas Keswick, giving birth to William Keswick in 1834, and establishing the connection between the two families that has extended through six generations. William Keswick would later establish a Jardine Matheson office in Japan in 1859 and became managing partner of the firm in 1874. William Keswick relocated to London and became Matheson & Company’s Managing Director until 1912, in addition to serving as director of the British-based Hudson’s Bay Company. William’s younger brother, James Johnstone Keswick, was Managing Director of Jardine Matheson in the 1890s until 1900. William’s son, Henry Keswick, worked for the Jardines and fathered Tony Keswick, who would sire Sir Henry Keswick, Chair of the company and considered one of the richest individuals in the travel industry. His nephew Ben acts as the company’s Managing Director, and other nephews Adam and Simon serve on the Jardine board.
