The Gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. Search over 215,000 works, 150,000 of which are illustrated from the 16th Century to the present day.

Advanced Collection search

Search the Collection

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.

Tell us More

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation

List Thumbnail

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
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

Category

Groups

Links

Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.

If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.

Please note that we cannot provide valuations.

We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

What can you tell us?close

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citationclose

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)
Privacy Informationclose

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Your Emailclose

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.

Play

Tudor and Elizabethan matching pairs

Test your memory by playing our matching pairs game. Three levels of difficulty make it fun for the whole family.

Test your skill

Regency familiar faces

Rearrange tiles to uncover sitters from the Gallery's Collection by playing our puzzle game.

Play today

Who do you think you were?

Answer a few lifestyle questions about the Elizabethan period and discover your inner Elizabethan!

Start now