Daniel Gurney
Encyclopedia
Daniel Gurney was an English banker and antiquary.
Gurney was born at Earlham Hall, near Norwich, on 9 March 1791. He was youngest son of John Gurney (d. 1809) of Earlham
, Norfolk
, and brother of Elizabeth Fry
, the philanthropist, Louisa Gurney Hoare
, the writer on education, and Joseph John Gurney
and Samuel Gurney
, all of whom are separately noticed. His mother, Catherine, daughter of Daniel Bell, died in 1792. He descended from the ancient family of Gurney or Gournay, a younger branch of which held certain manors in Norfolk (temp. Henry II). Daniel was a direct descendant of this branch of the family.
After completing his education Gurney entered the Norwich firm of Gurney & Co., of which he was afterwards the head, and for more than sixty years a partner. He wrote several essays on banking, which were printed for private circulation only. As the head of one of the first banks in the provinces he had much influence, both socially and politically. His amiability, courtesy, and generosity greatly endeared him to his contemporaries. Gurney was mainly instrumental in establishing the West Norfolk and Lynn Hospital.
One of Gurney's favourite pursuits was archæology, and he was a prominent fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
. He took great interest in genealogy. In 1848 he printed in two volumes for private circulation an elaborate work entitled ‘The Record of the House of Gournay,’ to which he afterwards (1858) added a supplement. This book is highly valued for its varied antiquarian information and research.
Gurney, who was a conservative in politics, was a justice of the peace and deputy-lieutenant for the county of Norfolk, and filled the office of High Sheriff of Norfolk
in 1853. He married in 1822 the Lady Harriet Jemima Hay, daughter of William Hay, 15th Earl of Erroll, by whom he had a numerous issue; she died in 1837. Their son, Charles Henry Gurney, who married a daughter of Henry Thoby Prinsep
, graduated Trinity College, Cambridge
, and was a partner in Saunderson's Bank, London. Daniel Gurney himself died, 14 June 1880, at his seat near North Runcton
, Norfolk.
Gurney was born at Earlham Hall, near Norwich, on 9 March 1791. He was youngest son of John Gurney (d. 1809) of Earlham
Earlham
Earlham can refer to the following places:*Earlham Hall, a historic home in England*Earlham, Iowa*Earlham College, a liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana*Earlham Cemetery, a historic cemetery adjacent to Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, and brother of Elizabeth Fry
Elizabeth Fry
Elizabeth Fry , née Gurney, was an English prison reformer, social reformer and, as a Quaker, a Christian philanthropist...
, the philanthropist, Louisa Gurney Hoare
Louisa Gurney Hoare
-Early life:Louisa Gurney, born on 25 September 1784, was the seventh of the eleven children of John Gurney of Earlham Hall near Norwich, a Quaker, and of Catherine Bell . Her father inherited ownership of Gurney's Bank in Norwich...
, the writer on education, and Joseph John Gurney
Joseph John Gurney
Joseph John Gurney was a banker in Norwich, England and an evangelical Minister of the Religious Society of Friends , whose views and actions led, ultimately, to a schism among American Quakers.-Biography:...
and Samuel Gurney
Samuel Gurney
Samuel Gurney was an English banker and philanthropist.He should not be confused with his second son, Samuel , also described as banker and philanthropist, and a Member of Parliament.-Early years and marriage:...
, all of whom are separately noticed. His mother, Catherine, daughter of Daniel Bell, died in 1792. He descended from the ancient family of Gurney or Gournay, a younger branch of which held certain manors in Norfolk (temp. Henry II). Daniel was a direct descendant of this branch of the family.
After completing his education Gurney entered the Norwich firm of Gurney & Co., of which he was afterwards the head, and for more than sixty years a partner. He wrote several essays on banking, which were printed for private circulation only. As the head of one of the first banks in the provinces he had much influence, both socially and politically. His amiability, courtesy, and generosity greatly endeared him to his contemporaries. Gurney was mainly instrumental in establishing the West Norfolk and Lynn Hospital.
One of Gurney's favourite pursuits was archæology, and he was a prominent fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries can refer to:*Society of Antiquaries of London*Society of Antiquaries of Scotland*Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne*Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland...
. He took great interest in genealogy. In 1848 he printed in two volumes for private circulation an elaborate work entitled ‘The Record of the House of Gournay,’ to which he afterwards (1858) added a supplement. This book is highly valued for its varied antiquarian information and research.
Gurney, who was a conservative in politics, was a justice of the peace and deputy-lieutenant for the county of Norfolk, and filled the office of High Sheriff of Norfolk
High Sheriff of Norfolk
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Norfolk. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and is appointed annually by the Crown. He was originally the principal law enforcement officer in the county and presided at the Assizes and other important county meetings...
in 1853. He married in 1822 the Lady Harriet Jemima Hay, daughter of William Hay, 15th Earl of Erroll, by whom he had a numerous issue; she died in 1837. Their son, Charles Henry Gurney, who married a daughter of Henry Thoby Prinsep
Prinsep
Prinsep may mean any of several notable members of the British Prinsep family.The family descended from John Prinsep, an 18th-century merchant who was the son of Rev. John Prinsep, rector of Saundby, Nottinghamshire, and Bicester, Oxfordshire...
, graduated Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, and was a partner in Saunderson's Bank, London. Daniel Gurney himself died, 14 June 1880, at his seat near North Runcton
North Runcton
North Runcton is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is west of Norwich, south-south-west of King's Lynn and north of London. The village is located a small distance south-west of the A47 between King's Lynn and Swaffham. The nearest railway station is at...
, Norfolk.