Barton & Guestier is one of the oldest and most important Bordeaux wine merchants. Its origins date back to 1725, when Thomas Barton (1694-1780), who came to Bordeaux in 1722 and was of Irish descent, founded a wine trading company. He had a serious falling out with his son William (1723-1799), who founded his own company. His son Hugh Barton (1766-1854) married Anna, the daughter of the wealthy wine merchant Nathaniel Johnston. He was forced to leave France during the French Revolution after a brief imprisonment in 1793. The important trading company Barton & Guestier was formed in 1802 from the relationship he entered into with Daniel Guestier in 1792. He tried unsuccessfully for over 15 years to acquire Château Lafite.
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