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.

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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...

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George Peabody

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

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George Peabody statue

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

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Peabody Fund - Centenary

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

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Queen Elizabeth College Almshouses

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Erasmus Wilson F.R.S

Erasmus Wilson F.R.S

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Viscountess Rothermere, Maiko Jeong Shun Lee

Viscountess Rothermere, Maiko Jeong Shun Lee

A Korean citizen born in Japan. Married (as his second wife) the 3rd Viscount Rothermere (grandson of the 1st Viscount) in 1993. Widowed 1998. From Wikipedia: In 2009 Lady Rothermere set up the La...

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1 memorial
Hannah Sara Chadwick

Hannah Sara Chadwick

In 1850 she donated some funds to the Emery Hill almshouses in memory of her late husband, James Chadwick: £1500 3 per cent annuities, the interest thereof to be divided amongst the poor alms-peopl...

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John Caudwell

John Caudwell

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Church Cross - Teddington

Church Cross - Teddington

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Central London District Schools

Central London District Schools

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Charles Dickens - Cranleigh Street

Charles Dickens - Cranleigh Street

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In Dickens' time it was called Johnson Street. His house was number 29 though it had apparently changed to number 13 when the library was...

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Caroline Lowe, Viscountess Sherbrooke

Caroline Lowe, Viscountess Sherbrooke

Born as Caroline Anne Sneyd, daughter of Thomas Sneyd of Ashcombe Park, Staffordshire.  Married Viscount Sherbrooke in 1885.

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1 memorial