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 Sir
Jacob Behrens, born 1806, died 1889. Behrens, from a family of merchants
in Germany, settled in Bradford in 1838, opening up premises in
Thornton Road. He was the first textile export merchant in the city
and became an important figure in founding the Chamber of Commerce.
The Behrens company grew to have a global reach, with branches in
Calcutta and Shanghai as well as London and Glasgow. He was knighted
by Queen Victoria in 1882 for his work in strengthening trade relations
between Britain and France. His active interest in education led
him to play a major role in the reorganisation of the Bradford Grammar
School in 1871. He was also instrumental in establishing the Technical
College in Great Horton Road in 1882. He preferred to be active
in charity works rather than local politics. An obituary in The
Jewish Chronicle (26.04.1889) sums up thus: "In Bradford he
was known as a gentleman of culture and a philanthropist."
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