Edward Cunningham

Edward Cunningham (金能亨, Jīnnénghēng) was an American merchant, a partner in Russell & Co. (旗昌洋行), who became one of the most active figures in the foreign settlement’s early government and commerce.

According to the Shanghai Concessions Gazetteer, he acted as the American consular representative in 1852 and in 1854 was elected one of the first directors of the Shanghai Municipal Council. In 1861 he put his own steamer on the Yangtze, and in 1862 he raised 1 million taels from Chinese and foreign investors to form the Shanghai Steam Navigation Company, the first dedicated steamship company in the city. For a time it ranked alongside Jardine Matheson (怡和洋行) and the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company as one of the three main Yangtze carriers. He also founded the Yangtze Insurance Association.

In 1862 he suggested merging the British and American settlements. He chaired the Municipal Council in 1868-1869 and argued for keeping the Bund wide and open.