[3] In the 19th century it became a leading trader in cotton from the United States and in 1841 it became the Liverpool agent for the East India Company.

[3] In 1912 it abandoned its trading operations and focused on financial management,[3] initially for the Rathbone family, but subsequently for the general public.

In 1988 it merged with Comprehensive Financial Services Ltd to form Rathbone Brothers plc[3] and thereby secured a listing on the London Stock Exchange.

[5] In April 2023, Rathbones agreed to buy Investec's wealth and investment businesses in the UK and Channel Islands for £839 million.

[6] The company provides investment management, financial planning, tax and trust services.