John George Graves
Encyclopedia
John George Graves was a successful English entrepreneur and public benefactor. He became Sheffield's Lord Mayor and an Alderman in 1926 and he was given Freedom of the City
in 1929. He was born in Lincolnshire
in 1866 and died in 1945, after having settled in Sheffield
.
Graves moved to Sheffield to become an apprentice watchmaker
. He set up one of Britain's first mail order
businesses, selling first watches and then a wide range of goods. The company employed, at its peak, 3,000 people in Sheffield and had an annual turnover of £1m. The company was absorbed by Great Universal Stores
after Graves' death.
A keen art collector, Graves donated nearly £60,000 towards the development of art galleries
in Sheffield, including Sheffield Central Library
, the Graves Art Gallery
and the Mappin Art Gallery. He also contributed hundreds of pictures from his private collection.
Graves donated over £1 million to Sheffield, including the establishment of Sheffield University
's Student Union. Part of the Union building is known as the "Graves Building". He also made gifts of land to the city, including Graves Park
, Ecclesall Woods
, Tinsley playing fields, Concord Park
and Blacka Moor. The J. G. Graves Trust, a charitable trust
set up in his name, exists to the present day.
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
in 1929. He was born in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
in 1866 and died in 1945, after having settled in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
.
Graves moved to Sheffield to become an apprentice watchmaker
Watchmaker
A watchmaker is an artisan who makes and repairs watches. Since virtually all watches are now factory made, most modern watchmakers solely repair watches. However, originally they were master craftsmen who built watches, including all their parts, by hand...
. He set up one of Britain's first mail order
Mail order
Mail order is a term which describes the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. The buyer places an order for the desired products with the merchant through some remote method such as through a telephone call or web site. Then, the products are delivered to the customer...
businesses, selling first watches and then a wide range of goods. The company employed, at its peak, 3,000 people in Sheffield and had an annual turnover of £1m. The company was absorbed by Great Universal Stores
GUS (retailer)
GUS plc was a FTSE 100 retailing group based in the United Kingdom. GUS is an abbreviation of Great Universal Stores, the company's former name before 2001...
after Graves' death.
A keen art collector, Graves donated nearly £60,000 towards the development of art galleries
Art gallery
An art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art.Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection...
in Sheffield, including Sheffield Central Library
Sheffield Central Library
Sheffield Central Library and Graves Art Gallery is a public library in Sheffield. It houses the city library service's single largest general lending and reference collection, as well as hosting an art gallery on the third floor, and a theatre in the basement....
, the Graves Art Gallery
Graves Art Gallery
Graves Art Gallery is in the centre of Sheffield above the Central Library and close to the Millennium Galleries. It shows permanent displays from the city’s collections of 19th and 20th century British and European art as well as a programme of temporary exhibitions.The collection encapsulates the...
and the Mappin Art Gallery. He also contributed hundreds of pictures from his private collection.
Graves donated over £1 million to Sheffield, including the establishment of Sheffield University
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
's Student Union. Part of the Union building is known as the "Graves Building". He also made gifts of land to the city, including Graves Park
Graves Park
Graves Park is a large parkland area in the South of Sheffield, between the districts of Norton, Woodseats and Meadowhead. The park was developed by Alderman J.G.Graves between 1926 and 1936, to protect the thousand year old woodland from building development. Mr Graves donated the 91.9 hectares...
, Ecclesall Woods
Ecclesall Woods
Ecclesall Woods is an area of woodland in south-west Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, between Abbeydale Road South and Ecclesall. It covers approximately of mature semi-natural deciduous woodland which was previously used for timber and charcoal, and is currently managed by the city council...
, Tinsley playing fields, Concord Park
Concord Park
Concord Park is a large park in the North of Sheffield, England, between Shiregreen and Wincobank.The park consists of Concord Park Golf Course, a country park and Woolley Woods, bordered by Ecclesfield Road....
and Blacka Moor. The J. G. Graves Trust, a charitable trust
Charitable trust
A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust established for charitable purposes, and is a more specific term than "charitable organization".-United States:...
set up in his name, exists to the present day.