Samuel Garbett

Not to be confused with Samuel Garbet.

Samuel Garbett (1717– 5 December 1803^[1]) was a prominent citizen of Birmingham England, during the Industrial Revolution, and a friend of Matthew Boulton. Historian Carl Chinn argues^[2] that he:

stood alongside Boulton as one of the key figures responsible for Birmingham's rapid expansion into one of the world's leading industrial towns.

Samuel Garbett
Born	1717
Died	(1803-12-05)5 December 1803
Resting place	St Philip's, Birmingham
Occupation	Industrialist
Relatives	Charles Gascoigne (son-in-law)

Garbett's education extended:

[no] further than writing and accounts; but he was a man of great acuteness of genius and extent of understanding.^[3]

Garbett was employed by a London merchant named Hollis, as his agent for purchasing goods in Birmingham.^[2] In that role, he came:

into notice and rank among his townsmen; and the more he was known, the more he was esteemed.^[3]

He married Anne Clay (d. 1772) of Aston in August 1735.^[1]

He then made his fortune as a merchant in his own right, before entering partnership with Dr John Roebuck to set up a laboratory in Steelhouse Lane where precious metals were refined and assayed; a manufacturing centre for sulphuric acid in Prestonpans in 1749; and, with William Cadell and John Roebuck, founded the Carron Iron Works, in Scotland, in 1759,^[2] in which the two Birmingham men each held a 25% share.^[1] He also chaired, from January 1788, a Birmingham committee against the slave trade.^[2]

His eldest child and only daughter Mary married Charles Gascoigne in 1759, and in 1765 Gascoigne became a partner in the Carron works, having been manager of Garbett's nearby turpentine factory, Garbett & Co., since 1763.

Garbett was involved in the creation of Birmingham Assay Office in 1773,^[2] and was the first chairman of Birmingham's Commercial Committee, forerunner of successive Birmingham Chambers of Commerce,^[2] as was a member of the committee that raised funds to create Birmingham General Hospital.^[2]

He was declared bankrupt in 1782.^[2] Boulton encouraged him to re-establish his business in Birmingham, which he did successfully.^[2]

At his death in 1803, his estate was over £12,000, albeit with some creditors not discharged.^[2] He was buried at St Philip's Church (later Birmingham's cathedral), where he had been a church warden.^[2] Matthew Boulton wrote of him:

I have always found his principles unfailingly just, honourable and liberal.^[4]

Throughout his life, Garbett played a prominent part in local politics and affairs, including police proposals and the development of Birmingham's canals.^[5] During the Birmingham riots of 1791, it was at his house in Newhall Street that the town and country gentry held their emergency meetings.^[6] His political lobbying in general, and correspondence with Shelburne in particular, make him a significant figure in national politics.^[7]