Seventy-four distinct printed works established Jonas Hanway as a prolific pamphleteer and public figure in eighteenth-century London. Born in 1712 in Portsmouth, he transitioned from a career in international commerce to a life dedicated to social reform and civic administration, becoming the first male resident of London to carry an umbrella in public.
Early Trade and Caspian Expeditions
Hanway began his mercantile career in 1729 as an apprentice in Lisbon. By 1743, he formed a partnership with a merchant named Dingley, based in St. Petersburg. This association prompted extensive travel through Russia and Persia. During a voyage to Astrabad in 1743, his goods were seized by Mohammed Hassan Beg. Despite significant adversity, he managed to reach the camp of Nadir Shah, successfully recovering 85 percent of his property. His return to St. Petersburg in 1745 involved overcoming illness, piracy, and a period of quarantine.
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Returning to London in 1750, Hanway turned his attention to social causes. He founded The Marine Society in 1756 to bolster the supply of British seamen. His work with the Foundling Hospital began in 1758, and he eventually served as vice president starting in 1772. His administrative contributions included assisting in the establishment of the Magdalen Hospital and securing improved parochial birth registration systems in 1761. In 1762, he was appointed a commissioner for victualling the navy, a position he retained until 1783.
Public Controversies and Advocacy
Hanway gained notoriety for his vocal opposition to tea consumption, publishing An Essay on Tea in 1756. He argued that the drink weakened the nerves and harmed the national economy, an stance that invited sharp public criticism from Samuel Johnson. Beyond tea, he campaigned against the practice of tipping, advocated for the use of solitary confinement for prisoners, and argued in favor of better conditions for child chimney-sweeps. He also expressed opposition to the naturalisation of non-British Jews.
Fast facts
- Born: 1712, Portsmouth
- Died: 5 September 1786, England
- Burial place: Westminster Abbey
- Key publication: Historical Account of British Trade over the Caspian Sea
- Naval position: Commissioner for victualling, 1762-1783
- Religion: Anglicanism
Questions readers ask
What was Hanway's primary argument against tea?
He contended that tea consumption was physically harmful, led to economic loss for the nation, and weakened the productivity of the working class.
Where is Jonas Hanway buried?
While he was initially interred in the crypt at St. Mary's Church, Hanwell, a memorial monument stands in the north transept of Westminster Abbey.
