Very little is known about Henry John Ellis except that he was a partner in the firm Coutts and Ellis, later
H Ellis and Company, general merchants.
In April 1907 he was elected to represent Ward 2 of the Town Council to replace William Symons but did
not seek re-election when he retired on rotation in February 1909.
This was an era of economic stagnation at the port. From a golden age with rapid growth from 1890
through to about 1905, East London spiralled into a post-Boer War recession that would last a full five
years.
It is possible that Ellis felt the economic stress and so decided to leave East London for pastures new.
