Henry Lester

Birth and life in Britain

Lester was born in Southampton in 1840 as the youngest of four brothers. After finishing his university studies, he returned to Southampton with a bachelor degree in architecture. Unluckily, all of his brothers died of an unknown disease. One doctor told him that he should leave his homeland, so Lester departed Southampton with sadness and disconsolation. Henry took a cargo ship to Shanghai with another Briton, Gordon Morriss, who afterwards became his partner.

Early years in Shanghai

Henry arrived in Shanghai in 1867, and worked in Shanghai Municipal Council. Three years later, he ended that work after the expiration of his contract. Then he attended Shanghai Real Estate Agency, which was opened by Edwin Smith, who is an American, and he became a main shareholder of the agency. After Mr. Smith's retiring, Henry's own company, Lester, Johnson&Morriss(Chinese:德和洋行), took over all the assets of Shanghai Real Estate Agency and then Henry became one of the richest merchants in Shanghai.

Mr. Lester and his company

According to the stipulation of Shanghai Municipal Council, staff members could not participate in its main business services and trade activities. Henry opened its own company, Lester. H, until the expiration of his contract. His compatriots Gordon Morris, George A. Johnson became shareholders together afterward. They renamed the company 'Lester, Johnson & Morris' and the Chinese name was kept as before. It became one of the most well-known architect offices. It is hard to know how many architectures did this office design and construct.

Main architectures

Most of them are historic architectures in Shanghai.

Heritage

Mr. Henry Lester bequeathed most of his assets to establish and endow the Henry Lester Trust Limited, which support Chinese Students study in UK.