DE LA RUE

De La Rue-Straw Hats to Global Securities charts the early history of the world's largest producer of securities and printer of UK banknotes.

While other Guernseymen prospered from privateering in the English Channel, fortune did not bless the household De La Rue. Nine children had depleted Eleazer's resources. His son, Thomas, had arrived as Madam Guillotine severed the reign of King Louis XVI. It was 1793.

Times became difficult for the nation in 1837. On 26 May, long before public limited companies, Thomas was arrested for debt.

After swallowing rivals Bradbury Wilkinson, Waterlows, Harrison and papermakers Portals, today De La Rue manufactures most facets of the money business. From ATMs, coins, creditcards, smartcards, and passports to software, holograms, cheques, stamps, banknotes, and bonds worldwide.

Not a bad achievement for a straw hat maker from Guernsey.