Founder Profile
Marcus Samuel Jr.
Last reviewed: 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Background
Born 1853 in London to a shell-trading merchant family. Inherited the Far East trading business and pivoted it to petroleum in the 1890s, commissioning the world's first purpose-built oil tanker to carry kerosene through the Suez Canal.
Founding Story
Marcus Samuel Jr. Founded the Shell Transport and Trading Company and built its Far East kerosene distribution network that became the British half of Royal Dutch Shell. He was Lord Mayor of London in 1902 and was later created Viscount Bearsted.