Samuel founded the Shell Transport and Trading Company, a forerunner of oil company Shell, in 1897.

The company was named after his father's business trading in seashells.

• In 1892, his purpose-built tanker Murex carried bulk kerosene through the Suez Canal, opening Asian markets to Russian oil.

• In 1907, his company merged with Royal Dutch Petroleum to form the Royal Dutch Shell group.

• He served as Lord Mayor of London from 1902 to 1903, and was created Viscount Bearsted in 1925.