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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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

Peabody Fund - Centenary

To mark the centenary of the founding of the Peabody Donation Fund by George ...

Read More

Other Subjects

Caroline Chisholm

Caroline Chisholm

Philanthropist, "The Emigrants' Friend". Born Caroline Jones near Northampton. She followed her husband to India where she became involved in the welfare of the British women there. She carried on ...

Person, Philanthropy, Social Welfare, Australia, India

1 memorial
Police Memorial Trust

Police Memorial Trust

A charitable organisation created following a letter to The Times from Michael Winner about the death of Yvonne Fletcher, and it was in her memory that the Trust's first memorial was erected. The p...

Group, Armed Forces, History, Philanthropy

9 memorials
David Greig

David Greig

A chain of grocery shops across north London. Faded London have more details and some photos of a splendid shop in Atlantic Road SW9.

Person, Commerce, Philanthropy

3 memorials
National Theatre Foundation

National Theatre Foundation

From the National Theatre website: "The Royal National Theatre Foundation may be able to assist employees, former employees or others who work or have worked at the National Theatre who are sufferi...

Group, Philanthropy, Theatre

1 memorial

Previously viewed