Barclays history

Barclays was first represented in Kent with the opening of a branch in Tunbridge Wells in around 1817.

First, the Bank Charter Act of 1826 allowed banks with more than six partners to be formed only outside London.

Barclays’ earliest origins in Wales go back to 1827 and a bank established in Haverfordwest by John and William Walters.

He also campaigned against slavery, and in 1837 went on a three year ministering tour of the West Indies and America, giving away one third of his share of the Bank's profits for the duration.

By 1838, the Gurneys were described as 'exercising an influence and a power inferior to that of no banking establishment in Great Britain - that of the Bank of England alone excepted'.

Stockholders of new joint-stock companies were granted limited liability for the first time in 1854.

They went on to open branches in Narbeth, Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock, before being taken over by the London and Provincial Bank in 1872.

Finally, in 1879, existing joint-stock associations were allowed to convert to a limited-liability structure.

In July 1896 Barclays and nineteen other banks joined together to form Barclay and Company Limited.

The Consolidated Bank of Cornwall amalgamated with Barclays and Co in 1905.

Barclays inherited several long-established branches in Northamptonshire from smaller banks that came into the Barclays group, mostly from the successful Stamford, Spalding & Boston Banking Company (‘SS&B’) which merged with Barclays in 1911

Barclays' first international venture took place in 1914 when it established its French subsidiary, Cox & Company.

In 1916, Barclays acquired the United Counties Bank, thereby securing a substantial presence in the Midlands.

The bank's merger with the London, Provincial and South Western Bank in 1918 made it one of the Big Five British banks.

By 1920 the Treasury had barred further mergers between banks but this did not stop Barclays from expanding and it began to take its business to other parts of the world.

The 1921 census which gives details of almost 38 million individuals is now available on Findmypast.

1937: Barclays' first coat of arms

Fisher saw Barclays through the boom years of World War II. When Fisher died in 1947, he was replaced by William Macnamara Goodenough.

In 1951, Anthony William Tuke, the son of William Favill Tuke, became chairman following William Goodenough's retirement that year.

Barclays Enters United States Market in 1965