John Bell-Irving, JP (2 February 1846 – 1925) was a Scottish businessman in Hong Kong. He was a partner of the Jardine Matheson & Co., one of the leading trading firm in the Far East. He was the eldest son of John Bell-Irving of Whitehill, a director of

Hongkong Electric Company The Hongkong Electric Company (HEC; ) is one of Hong Kong's two main electricity generation companies, the other being China Light & Power. The company is owned by several companies including Power Assets Holdings, State Grid Corporation of Chi ...

and partner of the Jardine Matheson & Co. His mother, Mary Jardine, was a nephew of William Jardine and sister of Sir Robert Jardine, the founders of the Jardine Matheson. He arrived in Hong Kong in 1872 and succeeded his father to become a partner of the Jardine Matheson from 1876 to 1891. He is also vice-chairman of the

Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC; ) was founded on 29 May 1861, and is the oldest and one of the largest business organizations in Hong Kong. It has around 4,000 corporate members, who combined employ around one-third of Hong Kon ...

, member of the City Hall Committee and the St. Paul's College, steward of the

Hong Kong Jockey Club The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) is one of the oldest institutions in Hong Kong, having been founded in 1884. In 1959, it was granted a Royal Charter and renamed The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (). The institution reverted to its original name ...

, president of Polo Club, chairman of the China Sugar Refining Co., director of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co. Ltd. and the Hongkong, Canton & Macao Steam-Boat Co. Ltd., member of consulting committee of the Douglas Steamship Co. He was made

Justice of the Peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

and was appointed one of the six members of the

Legislative Council of Hong Kong The Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LegCo) is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong. It sits under China's " one country, two systems" constitutional arrangement, and is the power centre of Hong Kong ...

in 1886 and 1887. His younger brother,

James Jardine Bell-Irving James Jardine Bell-Irving (24 December 1859 – 8 June 1936) was a Scottish businessman in Hong Kong and China and member of the Executive Council and Legislative Council of Hong Kong. Son of John Bell-Irving and Mary Jardine, niece of Dr. Wil ...

, was also member of the

Executive Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to: Role or title * Executive, a senior management role in an organization ** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators ** Executive dire ...

and Legislative Councils of Hong Kong. He married Isabella Thornton of Henry Thornton and Louisa Bannerman Thornton, a niece of Williamina MacKenzie, wife of

Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong The Chief Secretary for Administration, commonly known as the Chief Secretary of Hong Kong, is the most senior principal official of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Chief Secretary is head of the Governmen ...

, William Marsh. They had one son, Major John Bell-Irving.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell-Irving, John 1846 births 1925 deaths Hong Kong businesspeople Scottish businesspeople Scottish expatriates in Hong Kong Members of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong Jardine Matheson Group