Lot 3084

Description

Great Britain, share certificate for Peninsular Company Limited, certificate no.0020, named to John Viret Gooch Esqre, Reform Club, Pall Mall, London S.W., dated 21st July 1864, decorative vignette at side featuring monogram initials of company name, printed on paper with watermark of Bradbury Wilkinson & Co, London, reverse marked with two different transfers of title of shareholding. A few tone spots, otherwise nearly very fine.

John Viret Gooch, locomotive engineer, was the Locomotive Superintendent of the London and South Western Railway from 1841 to 1850. After leaving this position he was appointed Locomotive Superintendent to the Eastern Counties Railway. He was given a free hand to reduce costs but in doing so made an agreement with the coal suppliers that he would receive a side payment for all coal purchases made by the company. This led to a strike by all employees but management backed Gooch and all employees were black listed and replaced by staff recruited from other railway companies. Finally, in 1856, shareholders became aware of what was happening and Gooch and his co-conspirator did not have their contracts renewed. Gooch also had a commercial interest in six ships, all colliers, and was guilty of using the railway's facilities to repair his own ships. He died on 8 June 1900 at his residence at Cooper's Hill, Bracknell, Berks. Gooch was a member of the Reform Club in Pall Mall, one of London's grandest clubs with many famous past members.