Person    | Male  Born 24/2/1619  Died 27/1/1689

Robert Aske

Categories: Philanthropy, Race Issues

Son of a draper. Worked as a haberdasher; 1643 became a Freeman of the Haberdashers Company; 1666 elected an Alderman of the City of London. He became Master of the Haberdashers' Company. But the reason he's remembered is that, though married he had no children and thus was free to leave a significant bequest to the founding of a Hospital, out of which grew a number of schools all with the tongue-twisting moniker of Haberdashers' Aske's. But at least the pupils learn to manage their apostrophes.

2021: Southwark News reported that "The Haberdashers’ Aske’s chain of schools will remove the surname of their 17th century benefactor Robert Aske from their names, in recognition of his investment in the slave trade." Aske invested a relatively small amount in the Royal African Company in 1672, becoming one of its founding members. the future of the statue of Ask at Hatcham College in New Cross is also looking doubtful.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Robert Aske

Commemorated ati

Aske's Hospital - right - 1875

This plaque summarises the history of the Hospital and celebrates the opening...

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Other Subjects

Sydney Simmons

Sydney Simmons

From Parish of Frien Barnet: "... born in Okehampton, Devon ... made a fortune from a patent carpet cleaning process. By 1891, Sydney and his wife Annie were living in Friern Barnet at their house ...

Person, Benefactor, Commerce, Philanthropy

2 memorials
The Engine Room

The Engine Room

From their website: "The Engine Room helps activists, organisations, and other social change agents make the most of data and technology to increase their impact."

Group, Philanthropy, Social Welfare

1 memorial
Felix Slade

Felix Slade

Collector of glass, books and engravings funded from the wealth he inherited from his father. Member of the Society of Antiquaries, he endowed 3 Slade Professorships of Fine Art at universities, an...

Person, Art, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
W. F. R. Stanley

W. F. R. Stanley

Inventor, manufacturer and philanthropist. Born William Ford Robinson Stanley in Islington. He filed 78 patents for precision drawing, mathematical and surveying instruments, as well as telescopes....

Person, Architecture, Engineering, Philanthropy

5 memorials