Name William Bass Died March 2, 1787 Siblings John Bass | Role Brewer Parents William Bass, Hannah Fish | |
Children Michael Thomas Bass, William Bass Grandchildren Abraham Bass, Michael Thomas Bass Great grandchildren Michael Bass, 1st Baron Burton | ||
William Bass (1717 – 2 March 1787) was the founder of the Bass Brewery.
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Career
William Bass was the son of William Bass and his wife Hannah Fish. He had a carrier business with his brother John at Hinckley, Leicestershire. In around 1756 after his marriage, he settled in Burton-on-Trent, and continued his business there as a carrier of beer, his chief client being Benjamin Printon, a local brewer.
By 1777, aged 60, he had saved some money, and, seeing the growing demand for Burton beer, he entered the brewing business. He bought a town house in the High Street, which contained a brewery and malthouse on adjoining land. Burton was already a thriving brewing town with several breweries exploiting the growing export beer trade via the Trent Navigation and Hull to the Baltic ports in Russia, mainly St. Petersburg. He established the Bass Brewery and catered mainly for the domestic market, but in 1784 he started to export ale directly to Russia.
After his death, he was succeeded in the business by his sons William and Michael, and in 1795 Michael took sole control.
Bass is buried in Burton-on-Trent.
Family
Bass married Mary Gibbons and their children included William and Michael.