Shell company owner
- •
Our brand history
Since the first use of the Shell name at the end of the 19th Century, the brand has grown to become one of the most well-recognised in the world. In this section, you can follow that evolution from humble beginnings to household name.
The Shell name
The origin of the Shell name can be traced back to the seashells that Marcus Samuel senior imported from the Far East during the late 19th Century. When his sons Marcus junior and Samuel were looking for a name for the kerosene that they were exporting to Asia, they chose Shell.
As kerosene sales came to dominate the business’s turnover, the name was adopted for the new import-export organisation that was set up in 1897 – the Shell Transport and Trading company.
The Shell name briefly took a back seat in 1907 when the company was merged with Royal Dutch to form, the Royal Dutch Shell Group, but the newly formed business quickly became known as Shell for short.
The Shell logo
Shell’s yellow and red scallop shell logo is one of the most recognisable symbols in the world, but it
- •
Shell's history
1833-1892
From shells to oils
In 1833, Marcus Samuel decided to expand his London store. He was already selling antiques, but decided to try selling oriental shells as well, taking advantage of their popularity in interior design at the time. Demand was so great that he began importing shells from the Far East, laying the foundations for an export-import company that eventually became one of the world's leading energy companies.
When Marcus Samuel senior died in 1870, his two sons, Marcuso junior and Samuel, took over the business and began to expand it. In the 1880s, they became particularly interested in oil exports. However, transport was a problem because the oil was transported in barrels which could leak and took up a lot of space. To solve this problem, they commissioned a fleet of steamers to carry oil in bulk, including the Murex, which in 1892 became the first oil tanker to pass through the Suez Canal.
1893-1900
Shell Transport and Trading Company is formed
The Murex's maiden voyage revolutionized the transportation of oil for the Samuel brothe
- •
Our company history
1833 – 1892
From seashells to the world of oil
In 1833, Marcus Samuel decided to expand his London business. He already sold antiques but decided to try selling oriental seashells as well, capitalising on their popularity in the interior design industry at that time. The demand was so great that he began importing the shells from the Far East, laying the foundations for an import-export business that would ultimately become one of the world’s leading energy companies.
When Marcus Samuel senior died in 1870 he passed the business on to his two sons, Marcus junior and Samuel, who began to expand it. In the 1880s they became particularly interested in the oil exporting business but shipping still posed a problem as oil was carried in barrels which could leak and took up a lot of space. To solve the problem, they commissioned a fleet of steamers to carry oil in bulk, including the Murex which, in 1892, became the first oil tanker to pass through the Suez Canal.
1893 – 1900
The Shell Transport and Trading Company is born
With the maiden voyage of
Copyright ©dewpant.pages.dev 2025