Contrary to present day opinion, the British have not always been a nation of tea drinkers, but since we adopted the habit we’ve become quite enthusiastic about this beverage! Perhaps it was a liking for tea that encouraged me in my search for the origins of The Horniman Tea Company.

I first became aware of the name Horniman in connection with my family history research, when I received a copy of the marriage certificate for my great-great grandparents, Charles Henry Buck and Mary Smith, dated 26th October 1858. I was so surprised that the marriage had taken place in a register office rather than at a Quaker Meeting, that at first I didn’t take in the names of the witnesses, one of whom was, 'John Horniman'. As the name was familiar, I asked my mother if she knew who he was. ”Oh, that will be the Quaker tea merchant” she replied. Excited by the idea that John Horniman might be THE tea merchant, and that this man seemed to have a connection with our famil

This article is a testament to the 'team' on Family Tree Forum. From a tiny snippet of vague information which I offered, they unravelled this intriguing tale of a man who rose from unpromising beginnings, to become one of the most feted members of the Magic Circle, who was styled 'the queen's magician' and performed before Queen Victoria and her court at many private gatherings.

Many years ago, whilst constructing a hobby tree, I came across a book which made reference to a James Holden. The information was brief, and vague: 'James Holden....who went to Birmingham, where he became a quack doctor, astrologist and conjurer'.

There was only the vaguest timescale, which placed this man's birth in the late 1700s. I left it for years, thinking this would be a fruitless search. Tying up some loose ends recently, I came across this piece of information again and without much hope, I posted on the site's Research Board.