Sir Benjamin Truman was a notable English entrepreneur and brewer during the 18th century.
Background
Truman followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both named Joseph Truman. "On the birth of the Duchess of Brunswick, granddaughter of George II, in August 1737, the Prince of Wales ordered four loads of faggots and a number of tar barrels to be burnt before Carlton House to celebrate the event, and directed the brewer of his household to place four barrels of beer near the bonfire for the use of those who chose to partake of the beverage.
Career
He is notable for the expansion of the Truman Brewery in the Spitalfields area of east London. Benjamin Truman joined the firm in 1722, and proved himself a shrewd businessman:
The beer proved to be of inferior quality and the people threw it into each other"s faces and the barrels into the fire. The prince remedied the matter on the following night by ordering a fresh quantity of beer from another brewer.
This was supplied by Truman, who took care that it should be of the best, thus earning for himself considerable popularity".
Under Truman"s management, the Black Eagle brewery increased substantially in prosperity and size, and Truman divided his time between the brewery"s Directors" House and a home, Popes, in Hertfordshire. Truman was knighted by George III on his accession in 1760 in recognition of his loyalty in contributing to the voluntary loans raised to carry on the various foreign wars.
His portrait was painted by George Romney and Sir Thomas Gainsborough (c 1773-1774). The latter has been part of the Tate Gallery collection since 1978.
Truman was buried in the Churchyard of Street Mary"s, Hertingfordbury, Hertfordshire.
Truman"s image was used on beer labels and in advertising until the 1970s, depicting him as a jolly fat man with a peg leg and the motto “There’s more hops in Ben Truman”.