Person    | Male  Born 8/10/1835  Died 5/3/1906

Frederick Horniman

Tea merchant, benefactor and politician. Born Frederick John Horniman at Bridgwater, Somerset. He inherited his father's tea business, which by 1891 was described as the biggest tea firm in the world. He embarked on a three month trip to India and Ceylon, collecting items that were to form the basis of the future museum. He entered parliament in 1895, and immeditely set off on a world tour. Died at his home, Falmouth House, 20 Hyde Park Terrace.

2020: During the Black Lives Matter protests the Chief Executive of the museum was quoted: "... as far as we know ... our founder Frederick Horniman did not own slaves or plantations – in fact he was born two years after the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. We do, however, acknowledge the fact that the family wealth that enabled his collection and the creation of the museum was derived from the tea trade, which was reliant on the exploitation of people living in the British Empire."

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Frederick Horniman

Commemorated ati

Forest Hill mural

{Panel 1:} A Brief Local History In medieval times this area was known as The...

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Frederick Horniman

Greater London Council The Horniman Museum and gardens were given to the peop...

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Horniman at Hay's

The plaque is incorrect in giving Thomas Cubitt as the designer. It was in f...

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Other Subjects

A. Yeatman & Sons

A. Yeatman & Sons

Funeral directors based in West Norwood mostly known for monumental masonry, taken over by Smiths of Southwark. The picture source website has an interesting page about the history of their busine...

Group, Benefactor, Commerce

1 memorial
Sir John Everett Millais

Sir John Everett Millais

Born Southampton. A prodigy, the youngest ever pupil at the Royal Academy School. Co-founder of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. His friendship with Ruskin did not survive marrying the ex-Mrs Ruskin...

Person, Art, Benefactor

5 memorials
Charlotte Denison Viscountess Ossington

Charlotte Denison Viscountess Ossington

Sister to Lord George Cavendish Bentinck.  1827 married John Evelyn Denison, 1st Viscount Ossington but left no children. When her brother (the eccentric 5th Duke) died with no male heir she and he...

Person, Benefactor

1 memorial
Vernon W. Hill II

Vernon W. Hill II

Co-funder of the Reagan statue. American businessman and banker.

Person, Benefactor, Commerce

1 memorial
Women's Voluntary Services

Women's Voluntary Services

A voluntary organisation concerned with helping people in need throughout the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1938 by Stella Isaacs, Marchioness of Reading, as a British women's organisation to r...

Group, Benefactor

1 memorial

Previously viewed

St Thomas' Hospital and bible

St Thomas' Hospital and bible

SE1, Borough High Street

Not one of London's most charming corners.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Desmond Plummer

Desmond Plummer

Conservative politician. Longest serving Leader of the Greater London Council, 1967 - 73. In 1981 became Baron Plummer of St Marylebone.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial