Person    | Male  Born 18/2/1795  Died 4/11/1869

George Peabody

Categories: Philanthropy, Property, Social Welfare

Countries: USA

Philanthropist. Born Massachusetts, USA, descended from English immigrants to America. A merchant businessman who moved into banking, in partnership with J. S. Morgan and became extremely wealthy. First came to the UK in 1827. He never married but had a mistress and daughter in Brighton to whom he was generous during his lifetime but they did not figure in his will.

His philanthropy in America was focussed on education and in Britain on housing. In 1862 he created The Peabody Donation Fund and the first Peabody model housing block was opened in Spitalfields, followed soon by buildings in Chelsea, Bermondsey, Islington, and Shadwell. The Fund, now 'Peabody', continues to provide housing.

Peabody died at a friend's home at 80 Eaton Square. His will required that he be buried in his home town but first he was given a state funeral in Westminster Abbey and then his body was ceremonially shipped across to America where he was buried in the family tomb that he had himself built, at his home town that had, in 1868, been renamed Peabody.

London Details has a good post on this man and his statue.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
George Peabody

Commemorated ati

Bowler plaque - Keys and Doorbells

This cast-iron roundel, showing keys and doorbells, is one of 22 - see Bowler...

Read More

George Peabody

Greater London Council George Peabody, 1795-1869, philanthropist, died here.

Read More

George Peabody statue

Unveiled by the then Prince of Wales, unusually in the subject's lifetime. To...

Read More

Other Subjects

Sir D. T. Keymer

Sir D. T. Keymer

Hon Treasurer of the Committee to restore Bishop Wood's Almshouses in 1930. Durham University has a 1924 photo of him in a group where he is named as "Sir D. T. Keymer, Messrs. Keymer & Sons a...

Person, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration, New Zealand, Sudan

1 memorial
Royal Literary Fund

Royal Literary Fund

British benevolent fund for professional published authors in financial difficulties. The Prince Regent supported it by providing premises at 36 Gerrard Street.

Group, Literature, Philanthropy

1 memorial
Robert Clayton

Robert Clayton

Born Northamptonshire. Apprenticed as a scrivener (like a secretary). Entered business and then set up a bank. Made a fortune from his connections with the slave trade and entered politics. Lord Ma...

Person, Lord Mayor, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration, Race Issues

1 memorial
Lawrence Sheriff

Lawrence Sheriff

Probably born in or near Rugby, 1515-16. In 1534 he went to London as an apprentice to a grocer. 7 years later he was a grocer and in 1554 he was elected to the Worshipful Company of Grocers. He wa...

Person, Education, Philanthropy

1 memorial
Sir Julius Wernher

Sir Julius Wernher

Co-founder and funder (with Alfred Beit) of the Royal School of Mines building. Born Damstadt, Germany, came to London in 1871, and, acting as a diamond agent, went to Kimberly in South Africa. Re...

Person, Industry, Philanthropy, Race Issues, Germany, South Africa

1 memorial