Cossart Gordon & Co. was established in 1745 and is the oldest company in the Madeira wine trade. Francis Newton, a young Scot, sailed from Gravesend in Britain and arrived in Madeira on September 12th, 1745 and founded the company. He was joined by his younger brother Thomas from 1758 to 1763 and then by another Scot, Thomas Gordon of Balmaghie also in 1758. By 1808, the Scottish dominance over the firm was broken with the arrival of William Cossart, an Irishman decended from the distinguished Huguenot family of France. At the end of the 19th century the firm had expanded by including Port, sherry, Tarragona, Marsala and Malaga to their wine portfolio. These businesses continued until the out break of World War II when the firm decided to concentrate solely on Madeira.
The history of the British merchants on the isolated island of Madeira is fascinating and unique. Living and working in the Madeira wine trade with only infrequent contact with the outside world, they contributed very substantially to various spheres of activity which increased the island's prosperity and thus alleviated much poverty. The Cossart family have been among the most influential on Madeira for nearly two centuries. To this day, Cossart Gordon Madeiras are considered the very finest available. |