The Beginning
1846
Frederick Beesley is born
Frederick Beesley, the youngest of Oxfordshire farmer Samuel Beesley’s three sons, was born to his second wife Elizabeth, the couple also had two daughters
1861
Frederick Beesley becomes an apprentice to William Moore
At the age of 15, Frederick began a seven-year apprenticeship with London gunmaker William Moore & Grey
1869
Frederick Beesley joins James Purdey & Sons
Aged 22, Frederick marries Clarissa Cheese, the daughter of a mushroom farmer, and now qualified, begins work as a stocker for the most prestigious gunmakers of the time James Purdey reflecting the quality of his craftsmanship and his engineering talents
1878
Frederick Beesley forced to leave
Despite working on prestigious projects such as a 10-bore shotgun for famed shooter the Marquess of Rippon, Beesley was forced to leave
1879
The Frederick Beesley brand is born
Undeterred, Frederick sets up his own business, aged 33, at Queens Street, just off Edgware Road in London
1880
Patent '31' changes the way shotguns are built forever
Beesley lodges patent No.31 inventing a spring-cocked hammerless gun which changes the way shotguns are built forever
1880-1885
Frederick Beesley sells Patent No 31 to James Purdey & Sons
Beesley sells Patent No 31 to James Purdey & Sons and over the following three to four years he sold a variety of his inventions to companies such as James Woodward and Cogswell & Harrison
1885
Frederick Beesley moves to 85 Edgware Road
With the business now better established, the company moved to larger premises at 85 Edgware Road
1891
Frederick Beesley becomes unofficial title of ‘Inventor to the London Gun Trade'
In recognition of his talents, Beesley becomes known as ‘Inventor to the London Gun Trade’ among his peers and he moves his business to the company’s most prominent and well-known address – 2 St James Street
1894
Frederick Beesley makes improvements to the original Patent 31
Beesley makes improvements to the original Patent 31 although it wasn’t widely adopted including by Beesley himself
1908
The lightweight 16 bore gun introduced
A specifically redesigned light 16 bore gun is launched by Beesley who by this time has registered more than 25 patents
1912-1921
Hon. Auditor to the Gunmaker’s Association
As Hon. Auditor to the Gunmaker’s Association, Beesley also continued the production of limited numbers of sought after English guns which, at the time, were more expensive than his rivals at Purdey or Holland and Holland
1921
Royal Warrant by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
Royal Warrant granted by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales
1928
Frederick Beesley passes away at 82. Leaving an unrivalled legacy in the gun trade.
Frederick Beesley passes away at the age of 82 and his son Herbert Philip takes over the business
1939
The Frederick Beesley business is purchased by Grant and Lang
The Frederick Beesley business is purchased by Grant and Lang after Herbert passed away just 11 years after his father
1980
The Frederick Beesley name is put up for sale
The Frederick Beesley name is put up for sale by owners the Harris & Sheldon Group, which closed stores and workshops and sold its several businesses as separate entities
1984
Hellis Beesley & Watson gunmakers is formed
Hellis Beesley & Watson Gunmakers is formed following purchase by Fred Buller of Chubb’s of Edgware
1986
Business re-named as Frederick Beesley Gunmakers
Business re-named as Frederick Beesley Gunmakers and moved to White Lion Road, Amersham, Bucks
1986-2014
The Beesley name is continued and produces a small number of hand made guns
A small number of handmade guns are produced to the same exacting standards set by Beesley including the ‘Jurassic’ model, the most recent gun made, with unusual prehistoric themed engraving
2014
Tom and Gary Ward aquire the Frederick Beesley business
Tom and Gary Ward acquire the Frederick Beesley business and relocate back to London
2015
Manufacturers are appointed in Italy
Manufacturers are appointed in Italy and two new Frederick Beesley shotguns are designed
2018
F. Beesley launch Fenice and Eleganza
The F. Beesley Fenice and Eleganza are launched reinstating the famous Beesley name
