George Ireland (12 June 1801 – 9 February 1879) was a businessman and one of the founders of Ireland Fraser & Co. Today, known as Ireland Blyth Limited, it is the 2nd largest business group in Mauritius.[1]
Ireland was born on 12 June 1801 to The Rev. Dr. Walter Foggo Ireland and his first wife, Jane Alves.[2] His father was a Church of Scotland minister at the North Leith Parish Church within the Presbytery of Edinburgh.
Ireland Fraser & Co. was founded on 1 July 1850 by George Ireland, Hugh Hunter and James Fraser.[3] The company provided shipping, insurance and general agent services for Mauritius' sugar trade.[4] The original name was Hunter Ireland & Co., but when Hugh Hunter left the company in 1860, the name was changed to Ireland Fraser & Co. The company became Ireland Fraser & Co. Ltd. in 1927.
On 9 October 1856 at St. Paul Church of England, Princes Park, Liverpool, England, Ireland married Emily Hartshorne, the daughter of Hugh Hartshorne, a Barrister from Halifax, Nova Scotia.[5] The couple had two sons, George Hugh Ireland, who joined Ireland Fraser & Co. in 1877 and who became partner in 1879, and Frederick Schomberg Ireland, a lawyer.
Ireland's grandson, John Frederick Ireland, played cricket and made 28 first-class appearances between 1908 and 1912.[6]
Ireland retired from Ireland Fraser & Co. on 30 June 1878, and dying at Blackheath Park, Kent, England on 9 February 1879.[7]