Sir John Ellerman was the son of a German immigrant to England. Though he began with little, he went on to become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in British history through shrewd investments and management of floundering businesses. He founded his own accounting firm and began buying up established companies. His most profitable investment was in shipping, where he eventually owned over 1.5 million tons of shipping through his company Ellerman Lines. Despite his enormous wealth, he lived quietly and avoided publicity, making him one of the richest men in England at the time of his death though largely unknown.