Horace Farquhar (1844-1923) was a successful banker turned politician, who at the time of his caricature in Vanity Fair in 1898, had been raised to the peerage of Baron Farquhar of Marylebone. By the 1890s he had become considerable wealthy through his success in the City, first as manager of Forbes, Forbes & Co. and then as a partner in the private banking house of Sir Samuel Scott, bart & Co. In 1895 he became MP for Marylebone, a seat he held until he moved to the House of Lords in 1898.
“It is four-and-fifty years since Horace Brand Townsend Farquhar became the fifth son of Sir Walter Minto Townsend Farquhar, M.P., and second Baronet of the Mauritius; and since then he has been many things. His elder brother being a sixth Baronet, he became a first on his own account half-a-dozen years ago; and now he has been improved into a Peer. He is also a Justice of the Peace and Deputy-Lieutenant for Middlesex, a County Councillor for London, President of the London Municipal Society, and heir-presumptive to his brother. He was Member of Parliament for a Marylebone Division before he was translated; he was a partner in the banking firm of Sir Samuel Scott and Co. till they were amalgamated with Parrs, which he now helps to direct; and he was an original Director of the British South Africa Company which has added so much to the Empire.
His father began life in diplomacy, and took an active part in Hertfordshire politics; but himself being without inheritance adopted a business career. At twenty-one he was taken into partnership by Sir Charles Forbes; and for some years he was managing partner of the firm, as well as of the West-End banking house, of Sir Samuel Scott and Co. Since he took to public life he has devoted himself to London politics, dress, and municipal matters; his chief achievement being the foundation of the London Municipal Society, whose President he is. He has represented East Marylebone on the London County Council since there was such a thing; and West Marylebone in the House of Commons. His amusements are Art, shooting, deer-stalking and racing. He is the husband of the widow of the late Sir Edward Scott; and altogether he is a very fortunate, cheerful, well-dressed fellow, who is quite satisfied with himself.
He is well known in London, and everybody calls him ‘Horace’.”
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