Chris Swinson Gerard Lee Bevan, Fraud And The Crash of 1920

November 22, 2019

Gerard Lee Bevan was guided to become a stockbroker – benefitting from a family introduction to Ellis & Co, one of the oldest and stuffiest stock exchange firms where he became a partner.

Bevan and some associates acquired an insurance company and used the funds to finance the promotion of new share issues. They made millions in the boom which followed the 1914-1918 war but lost them just as fast when the boom turned to slump in 1920. More insurance companies were acquired to strip their assets: but the losses continued to grow.

When the 1920 financial collapse occurred, Bevan scurried around Europe desperately hoping to evade the police and his appalled wife.

Bevan himself was jailed for seven years – and ostracised. On release, he left the country and on death he was buried in an anonymous grave in Havana.

Chris is a former president of The Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Recent lectures

Philip Roscoe – How to Build a Stock Exchange

Dr Philip Roscoe from the University of St Andrews spoke on ‘How to Build a Stock Exchange’. Our financial markets are full of contradictions. They are ubiquitous, sophisticated, ...
View Lecture

Martin Lees – Managing Systemic Challenges in a new Era of World Affairs

We were delighted to present on 15 March, in conjunction with Fettes College, Martin Lees speaking on Managing Systemic Challenges in a new Era of ...
View Lecture

Bob Traa – Challenges to stability and macroeconomic development: the case of the European Union

Bob Traa, who has spent much of his career visiting locations of economic turmoil to report back to the International Monetary Fund, gave this presentation ...
View Lecture
The Library of Mistakes Course

Advanced Valuation in Financial Markets

The online version of our renowned course, is available for both finance professionals and nonprofessionals.

As featured in the Financial Times

In conjunction with Heriot-Watt University

twoguys
Scroll to Top