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Samuel Gurney

(1786-1856), Philanthropist; known as 'The Banker's Banker'

Early Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 8 portraits
Samuel Gurney began working at fourteen in the counting-house of his brother-in-law and fellow Quaker, Joseph Fry, a tea merchant and banker. Gurney inherited enough money from his father and father-in-law to negotiate a partnership with the bill-broking firm of Richardson and Overend in 1807. The firm's business grew rapidly, to the point where, by the early 1820s, it was the largest broker in London. In the panic of 1825 the firm lent money to many banking houses to tide over their difficulties, earning Gurney the nickname 'the bankers' banker'. During the later years of his life he devoted himself to philanthropic undertakings.

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The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840, by Benjamin Robert Haydon - NPG 599

The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840

by Benjamin Robert Haydon
oil on canvas, 1841
On display in Room 20 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 599

Samuel Gurney ('They'll be done, we are obliged to thee'), by and published by Richard Dighton - NPG D32607

Samuel Gurney ('They'll be done, we are obliged to thee')

by and published by Richard Dighton
hand-coloured etching, published 1820
NPG D32607

Samuel Gurney ('They'll be done, we are obliged to thee'), by and published by Richard Dighton, reissued by Thomas McLean - NPG D13329

Samuel Gurney ('They'll be done, we are obliged to thee')

by and published by Richard Dighton, reissued by Thomas McLean
hand-coloured etching, published 1820
NPG D13329

Samuel Gurney ('They'll be done, we are obliged to thee'), by Richard Dighton, published by Thomas McLean - NPG D32608

Samuel Gurney ('They'll be done, we are obliged to thee')

by Richard Dighton, published by Thomas McLean
hand-coloured etching, published 1824
NPG D32608

Samuel Gurney, after John Robert Dicksee - NPG D35077

Samuel Gurney

after John Robert Dicksee
lithograph, mid 19th century
NPG D35077

'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840), by John Alfred Vinter, after Benjamin Robert Haydon - NPG D23546

'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840)

by John Alfred Vinter, after Benjamin Robert Haydon
lithograph, circa 1846-1864 (1841)
NPG D23546

'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840), by John Alfred Vinter, after Benjamin Robert Haydon - NPG D32033

'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840)

by John Alfred Vinter, after Benjamin Robert Haydon
lithograph, circa 1846-1864 (1841)
NPG D32033

'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840), by John Alfred Vinter, after Benjamin Robert Haydon - NPG D20516

'The Abolition of the Slave Trade' (The Anti-Slavery Society Convention, 1840)

by John Alfred Vinter, after Benjamin Robert Haydon
lithograph, circa 1846-1864 (1841)
NPG D20516

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