A. G. Stephen

Alexander Gordon Stephen, JP (14 September 1862 – 27 August 1924) was the chief manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.

Alexander Gordon Stephen
Unofficial Member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong
In office 31 October 1921 – 27 August 1924
Appointed by	Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs
Preceded by	Ernest Hamilton Sharp
Succeeded by	Percy Hobson Holyoak
Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong
In office 5 April 1921 – 14 June 1923
Appointed by	Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs
Preceded by	John Johnstone
Succeeded by	Herbert William Bird
Personal details
Born	(1862-09-14)14 September 1862 Banff, Aberdeenshire
Died	27 August 1924(1924-08-27) (aged 61) London, United Kingdom
Resting place	Kensal Green Cemetery
Occupation	Banker

Biography

He was born in Banff, Aberdeenshire on 14 September 1862. After he served an apprenticeship at the Town and Country Bank in Aberdeen, he joined the London office of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in 1882.[1] He arrived in Hong Kong on 27 August 1885. He was transferred to Batavia, Singapore and the Bombay office, and stationed in Batavia from 1896 to 1902 until he was appointed agent at Penang. He became manager in the Manila branch and undertook a tour of inspection of the North China branches. He was then appointed manager in Shanghai in 1912 and acted as chief manager in Hong Kong for a few months during the absence of Newton John Stabb in London. He subsequently returned to Shanghai as a manager until he succeeded as chief manager on the retirement of Newton John Stabb in 1920.[2]

He also held many public offices in Hong Kong. He was appointed as unofficial member of the Executive Council and Legislative Council and made a Justice of Peace in 1921. He was a member of both Court and Council of the University of Hong Kong. He was also a member of the general committee of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.[2]

Left Lion Stephen at the HSBC Building in Hong Kong

He also enjoyed many popular wins in Shanghai and Hong Kong as a steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club with Stephen and Stitt.[2]

Leaving in May 1924 for London due to illness, he died from pneumonia due to infarct of the lung at a London nursing home at the night of 27 August.[2] The funeral took place on 2 September at the Kensal Green Cemetery.[1]

HSBC's principal offices, including the HSBC Main Building in Hong Kong, the former office in Shanghai, and the current global headquarters in London, all feature a pair of bronze lions. The first of these, in Shanghai, were commissioned by Stephen and inspired by his visit to the Venetian Arsenal. By tradition, the lion on the left in each of these pairs is depicted roaring and is named "Stephen" in memory of Alexander Gordon Stephen. (The right hand lion is named "Stitt", after G H Stitt, Stephen's successor as Manager Shanghai.)

References

1. "The Late Mr. A. G. Stephen". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 2 October 1924. p. 2.
2. "Death of Hon Mr. A. G. Stephen". Hong Kong Telegraph. 29 August 1924. p. 12.

Business positions
Preceded by Newton J. Stabb	Chief Manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation 1920–1924	Succeeded by A. H. Barlow
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
Preceded by John Johnstone	Unofficial Member 1921–1923	Succeeded by Herbert William Bird
Political offices
Preceded by Ernest Hamilton Sharp	Unofficial Member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong 1921–1924	Succeeded by Percy Hobson Holyoak