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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Other Subjects

King William IV Naval Asylum

King William IV Naval Asylum

Also known as the King William IV Cottages. Commissioned by Queen Adelaide widow of King William IV and designed by Philip Hardwick. They provided housing for twenty destitute widows and families o...

Building, Philanthropy

1 memorial
Fusilier Aid Society

Fusilier Aid Society

A fund for injured fusiliers and their families. It distributes grants to those who suffer physically and mentally as a consequence of combat, or those who have fallen on hard times.

Group, Philanthropy

1 memorial
Morden College

Morden College

A charity founded by Sir John Morden, to accommodate merchants who had lost their estates by accidents and perils of the seas. Initially, only single or widowed men were admitted, but in the 20th c...

Place, Philanthropy

1 memorial
Joseph Toynbee

Joseph Toynbee

Pioneer ear surgeon and father of economic historian Arnold Toynbee (1852-1883). Born Lincolnshire. From Museum of Wimbledon: "...settled in Wimbledon in 1854 and lived at Beech Holme along Parksid...

Person, Medicine, Philanthropy, Tragedy

1 memorial
John & Ruth Howard Charitable Trust

John & Ruth Howard Charitable Trust

The Trust will consider giving grants for the preservation of buildings of historic or architectural interest anywhere in England (but not Wales), with a preference for the Greater London area (not...

Group, Architecture, History, Philanthropy

1 memorial