Fritz Dupré

Fritz Dupré was a manganese and iron-ore merchant in London.

Became naturalized as a British citizen in 1900.

Nationality and Naturalisation: Dupre, Fritz Carl Cornel Philip, from Germany. Resident in London. Certificate A11716 ...

Home Office: Registered Papers, Supplementary. Nationality and Naturalisation. Nationality and Naturalisation: Dupre, Fritz Carl Cornel Philip, from Germany. Resident in London. Certificate A11716 issued 13 November 1900.

From: www.bssinfo.de/hist09.htm

Friedrich Dupré erlangte übrigens weltweiten Ruhm. 1895 gründete er in London die Firma Friedrich Dupré & Co., die mit Eisen- und Manganeisenerzen aus Griechenland und Spanien handelte. Seine weiteren Beteiligungen in Brasilien, in Indien, im Kaukasus und an der Goldküste ermöglichten ihm Lieferungen dieses Erzes fast in die ganze Welt. Er wurde weltweit als „Manganerzkönig" bekannt.

From: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34387/pages/2349/page.pdf

FRIEDRICH CORNEL CARL PHILIPP DUPRE, otherwise FRITZ CARL CORNEL PHILIP DUPRE, otherwise FRITZ DUPRE, Deceased. Pursuant to the Trustee Act, 1925. NOTICE is hereby given that all creditors and other persons having any claims or demands against the estate of Friedrich Cornel Carl Philipp Dupré otherwise Fritz Carl Cornel PhilipDupré otherwise Fritz Dupré deceased late of The Firs Hampstead Heath in the county of Middlesex and 27 St. Mary Axe in the city of London who died on the gth day of December 1936 and whose Will with one Codicil was proved in the Principal Probate Registry on the 29th day of January 1937 by Magdalene Eva Elizabeth Dupré of The Firs Hampstead Heath aforesaid Edgar Oliver Goss and George Redmayne Gregory both of 62 London Wall in the city of London and Ernst Wilhelm Hauser of 27 St. Mary Axe in the said city of London the executors therein named are hereby required to send particulars thereof in writing to the said executors or to the undersigned on or before the i3th day of June 1937 after which date the said executors will proceed to distribute the assets of the said deceased amongst the persons entitled thereto having regard only to the claims or demands then notified and will not be liable for the assets of the deceased or any part thereof so distributed to any persons of whose claims or demands they shall not then have had notice.—Dated this 6th day of April 1937. HERBERT SMITH and CO., 62, London Wall, London, E.C.2, Solicitors for the said Executors

Value of estate on demise in 1936 was 230,519 pounds sterling.

Fritz Dupré biography (written by Mr Hauser in January 1948)

Mr F Dupré came to London in the year 1893, and for two years he worked with H. Borner & Co.

In March 1895, he established himself as a Merchant, under the style of F. Dupré & Co. at 93 Billetter Buildings, dealing principally in Iron and Manganiferous ores from Greece and Spain.

It was about this time that the steel works throughout the world were making demands for a manganese ore with a low phosphorus content. Prior to this, the steel works were using the Caucasian manganese ore which is rather high in phosphorus.

Making himself acquainted financially with the largest Brazilian manganese ore mine, the Morro da Mina Mine, he obtained nearly the whole of their production for sale in Europe and the USA.

In 1900, in the central provinces of India, several mines were discovered which produced this low phosphorus manganese ore. The mines were owned by a Mr Macfadyen. Mr Dupré was very interested in this Indian manganese ore which he introduced into the United Kingdom, the Continent, and the USA, as "Oriental Manganese Ore". Soon after this, many more mines were opened up in India and Mr Dupré increased his activities by purchasing quantities of their respective productions.

In addition to his purchase of Indian manganese ore, he was also dealing in the Caucasian manganese ore, and bought the ore from the local producers. Later, he established a subsidiary in Tchiatu and acquired mines and washeries for the ores.

In 1918, however, the Russians nationalised all of the mines and made a working arrangement for the Caucasian mines with the American Harriman concern for the disposal of their production. Mr Dupré gave financial support to this company, which very much strengthened his position in the manganese ore trade, so much so that he became known as the "Manganese Ore King".

A few years later, he was approached by Sir Edmund Davies, Chairman of the Fanti Consolidated Investment Company, which owned the manganese mine in the Gold Coast Colony, who invited him to become a Director of the Wassau Exploring Syndicate, which was formed for investigating the possibilities of exploiting these Gold Coast mines, which had previously been promisingly reported on by Kilbur Scott.

The results of these investigations were very encouraging, and the mines were taken over by the African Manganese Company, which began to work them satisfactorily, subsequently reaching an output of 500,000 tones annually.

Mr Dupré was appointed the sole selling agent in Europe, which Agency is still maintained by F Dupré Limited.

1911 Census:

Household information

Address: The Firs, Spaniard's Road, Hampstead

Type of Building Private House

Number of Rooms 25

Householder 1

Name: Fritz Dupre

Relationship to Head of Household Head

Condition / Years Married Married / 16 Years

Total Children Born Alive 7

Children Still Living 7

Gender M

Age 49

Estimated Year of Birth 1862

Occupation Ore and Iron Merchant

Employed Y

Working at Home N

Place of Birth Germany

Nationality Naturalized Abl 1897

Householder 2

Name: Else Dupre

Relationship to Head of Household Wife

Condition / Years Married Married

Gender F

Age 38

Estimated Year of Birth 1873

Employed N

Working at Home N

Place of Birth Germany

Householder 3

Name: Helene Dupre

Relationship to Head of Household Daughter

Gender F

Age 12

Estimated Year of Birth 1899

Occupation Juvenile

Employed N

Working at Home N

Place of Birth London Hampstead

Householder 4

Name: Gabriele Dupre

Relationship to Head of Household Daughter

Gender F

Age 11

Estimated Year of Birth 1900

Occupation Juvenile

Employed N

Working at Home N

Place of Birth London Hampstead

Householder 5

Name: Anna Dupre

Relationship to Head of Household Daughter

Gender F

Age 9

Estimated Year of Birth 1902

Occupation Juvenile

Employed N

Working at Home N

Place of Birth London Hampstead

Householder 6

Name: Elisabeth Dupre

Relationship to Head of Household Daughter

Gender F

Age 0

Estimated Year of Birth 1911

Occupation Juvenile

Employed N

Working at Home N

Place of Birth London Hampstead

Householder 7

Name: Fritz Dupre

Relationship to Head of Household Son

Gender M

Age 10

Estimated Year of Birth 1901

Occupation Juvenile

Employed N

Working at Home N

Place of Birth London Hampstead

Householder 8

Name: Walter Dupre

Relationship to Head of Household Son

Gender M

Age 6

Estimated Year of Birth 1905

Occupation Juvenile

Employed N

Working at Home N

Place of Birth London Hampstead

Householder 9

Name: Mabel Crawley

Relationship to Head of Household Governess

Condition / Years Married Single

Gender F

Age 41

Estimated Year of Birth 1870

Occupation Teacher

Employed Y

Working at Home N

Place of Birth London Hampstead

Householder 10

Name: Agnes Leeley

Relationship to Head of Household Nurse

Condition / Years Married Single

Gender F

Age 40

Estimated Year of Birth 1871

Occupation Maternity Nurse

Employed Y

Working at Home N

Place of Birth London Hampstead

Householder 11

Name: George Kloos

Relationship to Head of Household Servant

Condition / Years Married Single

Gender M

Age 34

Estimated Year of Birth 1877

Occupation Butler

Employed Y

Working at Home N

Place of Birth Germany

Householder 12

Name: Alice Maud Edwards

Relationship to Head of Household Servant

Condition / Years Married Single

Gender F

Age 23

Estimated Year of Birth 1888

Occupation Maid House

Employed Y

Working at Home N

Place of Birth Victoria Docks Essex

Householder 13

Name: May Greenough

Relationship to Head of Household Servant

Condition / Years Married Single

Gender F

Age 26

Estimated Year of Birth 1885

Occupation Parlourmaid

Employed Y

Working at Home N

Place of Birth Ardington Berks

Householder 14

Name: Ellen Jackson

Relationship to Head of Household Servant

Condition / Years Married Single

Gender F

Age 15

Estimated Year of Birth 1896

Occupation Kitchen Maid

Employed Y

Working at Home N

Place of Birth London

Householder 15

Name: Ida Mildred Norris

Relationship to Head of Household Servant

Condition / Years Married Single

Gender F

Age 15

Estimated Year of Birth 1896

Occupation Between Maid

Employed Y

Working at Home N

Place of Birth Islip Near Oxford

Householder 16

Name: Hulda Siegel

Relationship to Head of Household Servant

Condition / Years Married Single

Gender F

Age 46 Estimated Year of Birth 1865

Occupation Cook

Employed Y

Working at Home N

Place of Birth Germany

Householder 17

Name: Sarah Stroud

Relationship to Head of Household Servant

Gender F

Age 40

Estimated Year of Birth 1871

Occupation Children Nurse

Employed Y

Working at Home N

Place of Birth Wolton Twilts