Delmege Forsyth & Co. Ltd

The history of Delmege Forsyth Co. Ltd goes back to the year 1850, when Alexander Reid "established as a merchant in Peddler Street Galle". In 1865, the brothers Delmege, (Sam and Toby) arrived in Ceylon and went into partnership with James Reid who succeeded Alexander, setting up offices in Colombo and Galle. It is recorded that the Delmege brothers had been working as Pilots and Collectors in the Mississippi River Steamer Service and had made a fortune in "running the blockade". On the termination of the American Civil War, they left America and settled in Ceylon. Between 1865 and 1892, the partnership successfully acquired many important agencies for Coal, Insurance and Steamships. In 1882 they were made agent for The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, forming a relationship that still continues more than a hundred years later.