The First Umbrella

Jonas Hanway was born in Portsmouth in 1712. A noted philanthropist, and founder of the Marine Society, he is however more widely known as the first Englishman to use the archetypal symbol, the umbrella. Hanway had travelled widely as a representative of the Russia Company and brought back a prototype umbrella from Persia where they were used for protection against the sun. In the course of his varied career, he also become a Governor of the Foundling Hospital and fought the cause of mistreated young chimney sweeps. Jonas returned to his hometown in 1779 when he was commissioned by the Admiralty to look into the costs of a change of use for the Square Tower. The first British umbrellas were made of wood and oiled canvas and known as ‘Hanways’.