 He took his brother Robert into partnership with him in 1801, and eventually all six of his brothers moved to Liverpool to work in various mercantile businesses.John Gladstone's business became very extensive, having a large trade with Russia, and as sugar importers and West India merchants.In 1814, when the monopoly of the British East India Company was broken and trade with India was opened to competition, Gladstone's firm was the first to send a private ship (), to Calcutta.