Location: Manila Polo Club, Makati City
Category: Association/Institution/Organization
Type: Institutional marker
Status: Level II – Historical marker
Marker date: March 19, 1996
Installed by: National Historical Institute (NHI)
Marker text:
SMITH, BELL & CO., INC.
FOUNDED AS A TRADING FIRM NAMED CONSTABLE, WOOD & COMPANY BY HENRY CONSTABLE AND ROBERT WOOD IN 1846. A SUBSIDIARY FIRM OF SMITH, CONSTABLE AND COMPANY OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND. BECAME SMITH, BELL & COMPANY WITH THE ENTRANCE INTO THE FIRM OF JOHN KNOX SMITH AND LAWRENCE R. BELL IN 1853. WITH THE RAPID GROWTH OF ITS BUSINESS, IT PRACTICALLY ENGAGED IN EVERY BUSINESS ENDEAVOR AND BRANCHES WERE ESTABLISHED IN SAN FRANCISCO AND SINGAPORE IN 1859 AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. LATER, COLLABORATED WITH FILIPINO CAPITALISTS SPECIALLY IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST MECHANICAL RICE MILLS AND FIRST SUGAR REFINERY IN THE ISLANDS. SUPPORTED THE CAUSE OF THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTIONARY BY SENDING FOOD PROVISIONS AND RIVER VESSELS TO FILIPINO REBELS.
THIS MARKER IS DEDICATED TO ITS FOUNDERS FOR THEIR DEEP CONCERN AND CLOSE AFFINITIES WITH THE FILIPINO PEOPLE AND THEIR IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES, AS WELL AS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO THROUGH 150 YEARS OF HARD WORK AND EFFORTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ITS SUCCESS.
