Immigrants who helped build Britain 236516.bin

Michael Marks

Michael Marks, one of the two co-founders of Marks and Spencer, was born in Slonim, then part of Russian Poland in 1859. He moved to England in 1882 to escape anti-Semitic repression.

Marks spent his formative years working as a travelling salesman in West Yorkshire. Setting up shop in Leeds, he established a market stall where he sold household goods for a penny-a-piece. The stall developed into a successful retail business when Marks was introduced to Tom Spencer, then a cashier.

Marks and Spencer went into partnership in 1894 and acquired a permanent stall in Leeds' covered market. Their new partnership continued to expand in the 1890s, with stores opening in Birmingham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Cardiff, Bath, and London. Spencer took on responsibility for management of the partners' warehouse and Marks dealt with recruitment of staff to run the stalls.

The two men built on their successful first decade and became a limited company in June 1903, with equal shares being held by Marks and Spencer. The company continued to grow and profits increased, but it was soon to suffer the premature loss of its founders.

Spencer died in July 1905, and Marks died in December 1907 at the age of 48. Marks was also remembered after his death as a great philanthropist. The attendance at his funeral was the largest known at the Manchester Jewish cemetery.

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