Person    | Male  Born 11/1/1858  Died 8/5/1947

Harry Selfridge

Categories: Commerce

Countries: USA

Born Wisconsin. Too small to join the navy he became a clerk in a department store, where he rose to manager and then set out on his own. Very successful, he "retired" in 1906, moved to London and employed a Chicago architect, Daniel Burnham, to design his new store in Oxford Street, opened in 1909. He brought new ideas to British retailing; he is said to be the originator of "The customer is always right". Made his personality felt, touring the shop floor every day, formally dressed in a top hat.

After his wife's death in 1918 he continued his extravagant life-style with a liaison with Syrie Wellcome (see Barnardo, her father, for some info about her) and with a series of well-known ladies of the theatre, including a pair of identical twins the Dolly Sisters, entertaining lavishly at his home, Lansdowne House at 9 Fitzmaurice Place. Through poor financial management he gradually lost control of the business, finally departing in 1941. When he died 6 years later he had lost his fortune and, owning no property, was living with his daughter at 2 Ross Court, Putney Heath, where he died.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Harry Selfridge

Commemorated ati

Harry Selfridge at Selfridges

The feet of all the customers visiting "this house" have, over the years, sof...

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Harry Selfridge plaque

Harry Gordon Selfridge, 1858 - 1947, department store magnate, lived here, 19...

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Other Subjects

Caparo Group

Caparo Group

Company, based in Portland Place, founded by Lord Paul, specialising predominantly in the manufacture of steel, automotive and general engineering products.

Group, Commerce

1 memorial
Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society - Abbey Wood branch

Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society - Abbey Wood branch

Branch of the Co-op supermarkets, first built in 1912.

Building, Commerce

1 memorial
Bostall Estate

Bostall Estate

In 1887 Bostall Farm was bought by the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society and run to provide vegetables for the Co-op shops and food for the Society’s horses and pigs. By 1899 it had been decided t...

Place, Architecture, Commerce, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
Lord Ritchie of Dundee

Lord Ritchie of Dundee

Chairman of the Port of London Authority in 1935.

Person, Commerce, Politics & Administration

1 memorial

Previously viewed

1928 flood

1928 flood

The Environment Agency gets the date wrong but we assume the rest is correct: "On 12th January 1928, numerous areas in London and the surrounding local authorities were flooded. In Lambeth, 14 peop...

Event, Tragedy

2 memorials