John Prentice (businessman)

Prentice was born on 7 August 1847 in Beattock, Scotland, and educated at Greenock.^[1]

Prentice moved to Shanghai in 1870 to join Muirhead & Co., which was absorbed later by Boyd & Co.; Boyd & Co. was subsequently absorbed by Shanghai Dock and Engineering Co., a major shipbuilding company. Prentice rose through the ranks to become the controlling interest and principal of the firm.^[2]

He served on the Shanghai Municipal Council and was chairman from 1901 to 1902.^[3]

He died on 30 April 1925 following an attack of pneumonia in Shanghai.^[4] He was buried in Bubbling Well Cemetery.^[5]

A bust of Prentice was placed in the hall of the French Club in Shanghai following his death.^[6] A stained glass window in memoriam of Prentice was placed in the Union Church in Shanghai.^[7] Route Prentice (now Jinxian Road) in the Shanghai French Concession was named after Prentice.^[8]

Prentice married Jane Ann Law, the former wife of Mr Alexander Law. She died in 1935 and was buried in the Prentice family plot with her husband.^[9]