John David Humphreys (14 September 1837[1][2] – 8 November 1897) was an English merchant, chemist and druggist in Hong Kong.
Subsequently, he moved to Hong Kong in 1867 and became bookkeeper to A. S. Watson & Co., Ltd. Owing to his exceptional business aptitude he became, in conjunction with Mr. Hunt, another member of the staff, a proprietor of the firm on the retirement of the previous partners in the following year.
In 1886, he turned it to a public company, in which, however, Mr Humphreys retained a large interest and continued as general manager until 1896, when his firm of John D. Humphreys & Son became general managers of the A. S. Watson & Co.[4] and also Hong Kong High Level Tramways Co., Ltd, Olivers Freehold Miners, Ltd., and the New Balmoral Gold Mining Co., Ltd.
They were dissatisfied with the limited power of the unofficial members and the neglecting and mismanagement of the municipal affairs by the governmental departments.
He was understood to be retiring from active business owing to an affection of the heart from which he suffered, and from which he died on 8 November 1897 at Folkestone, England.