History
Benson & Hedges was founded in Canada in 1873 by Richard Benson and William Hedges as Benson and Hedges Ltd. Alfred Paget Hedges succeeded his father in the business in 1885, the same year which Richard Benson left the business and this headquarters was moved to England. The 1900s saw branches of Benson & Hedges Ltd. opening in the United States. In 1928, the American branch became independent, and was bought by Philip Morris in 1958. Benson & Hedges Ltd in the UK was acquired by the Gallaher Group in 1955. A Royal Warrant was issued to the British company in 1878, after the required five years of supply to the Royal Family. This was revoked in 1999 due to a "lack of demand in the royal households". The Warrant seal, which had previously been on the flip lid of the box, was removed. In June 1977 Benson & Hedges' Gallagher was represented, along with executives from six other major international tobacco companies, at a clandestine meeting styled 'Operation Berkshire' at Shockerwick House outside Bath, England, where they agreed on a deliberate strategy to mislead the public over the harmful effects of smoking and retard tobacco control efforts of governments and health groups.
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