Horatio Davies

Lieutenant Colonel Sir Horatio David Davies KCMG (1842–1912) was a London businessman, politician, magistrate and a driving force behind the establishment of Pimms as an international brandname.

Son of H D Davies Esq, he was educated at Dulwich College. Horatio had in fact been one of the last poor scholars of the original foundation of the College of God’s Gift in Dulwich, the official name of the College from its foundation (although Dulwich College was used colloquially in Horatio’s time there). Horatio maintained that, as a small boy, he had seen the bones of Edward Alleyn, the founder of Dulwich College, when his tomb was moved.

Horatio went on to become a Lieutenant Colonel in the 3rd Middlesex Artillery (V). His career was both of a political and business nature. He was said to have been in his enterprises loyal to his old friends but he disliked the intrusion of newcomers.

In the early 1870s Horatio Davies took interests with his wife’s brother, Frederick Gordon, in businessman’s restaurants. They started with the London Tavern and Pimm’s Oyster Bar. Crosby Hall and the Holborn Restaurant followed with much success. Following these ventures, Gordon went on to found the Gordon Hotels group. Horatio was also noted as owning the Ship and Turtle in Leadenhall Street. He later sold Crosby Hall - one of the City's most ancient buildings, which had previously been saved a number of times from destruction, and it was later pulled down for an office block (the remains were salvaged and re-erected in Chelsea).

James Pimm had invented the Pimms beverage as an aid to digesting the oysters his business was selling. After Pimm sold his business to Sir Horatio Davies, the brand was expanded as Horatio started the process of bottling the Number One Cup for other establishments to sell. He also expanded the chain to five Pimm's restaurants. Gradually, an export business was built up, so that by the time of Sir Horatio's death in 1912, Pimm's cocktail was known internationally, especially in the empire.

...
Wikipedia