George Peabody
1795–1869
American merchant banker and philanthropist. Settled permanently in England in 1837. From 1851, gave lavish 4 July dinners that became a feature of the London social season. Made large donations to educational establishments in America and England before focusing his philanthropic efforts on housing for the poor in London. The first American to be made a freeman of the City of London, 1862. Received a gold medal from the US Congress, 1867.
Sources
ANB
ODNB
Bibliography
ANB: American national biography. Edited by John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes. 24 vols. and supplement. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1999–2002.
ODNB: Oxford dictionary of national biography: from the earliest times to the year 2000. (Revised edition.) Edited by H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. 60 vols. and index. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2004.
