Joseph Rank (28 March 1854 - 13 November 1943) was the founder of Rank Hovis McDougall, later RHM, one of the United Kingdom's largest food production and flour-milling businesses until it was acquired by Premier Foods in 2007.
Born in Hull and educated at the Reverend Haynes's School in Swinefleet near Goole, Joseph Rank initially joined the family milling business.
In 1875 he established his own business when he rented a small windmill. Then in 1885 he installed a mechanically driven flour mill at the Alexandra Mill in Hull. His approach was to establish mills close to ports around the United Kingdom so expanding the business until it was the largest flour-milling business in the Country.
During the 1880s he became a staunch Methodist. He was also a lifelong cricket fan. He established various charities which have now been consolidated into the Joseph Rank Trust and also supported the Hull Royal Infirmary. During World War I he served on the Wheat Control Board. Sadly he saw the mills that he had built bombed to destruction during World War II.
Joseph Rank (Friedrichsthal, 10 June 1816 – Wien, 27 March 1896) was an Austrian writer.
He learnt philosophy and law in Wien. Shortly after finishing the university he began his literature career. In 1848 he was a member of the German Parliament. Later he moved to Stuttgart, then in 1851 to Majna-Frankfurt. From 1854 to 1859 he lived in Weimar. From 1849 he worked from Nürnberg. Here he served as the editor of Nürnberger Kurir. In 1861 he moved to Wien where he became the secretary of the royal and in 1876 the city theatre. From 1882 to 1885 he edited Heimat.