Benefactors and Founders
Leofric, Earl of Mercia and his wife Lady Godiva were responsible for the first major act of benevolence when they founded a monastery in the early settlement of Coventry, and some of the more notable benefactors and people that have since aided its development are listed as follows:
- Thomas Bond
- draper, founded Bond's Hospital in 1506, and mayor of Coventry in 1497
- The Botoners
- merchant family, reputedly instrumental in the building of St. Michael's church-tower, spire, chancel and nave
- Andrew Carnegie
- outside benefactor, gave £10,000 to the city for the building of libraries in Stoke, Earlsdon and Foleshill, all opened in 1913
- William Ford
- merchant, founder of Ford's hospital in 1529
- John Gulson
- founded Coventry's public library service and twice mayor 1867–69. Donated the site and most of the money for the building of the Gulson library adjacent to Holy Trinity church, opened in 1873. Also added a reference library in 1890
- John Hales
- writer and politician, founder of Coventry's Free Grammar school in 1545
- Sir Alfred Herbert
- pioneer of machine-tool production, converted a slum area into the public garden "Lady Herbert's Garden" in 1930, built and endowed "Lady Herbert's Homes" – two blocks of dwellings adjoining the garden, and funded restoration of the longest remaining portion of the city walls and Swanswell gate. Gave an initial gift of £100,000 and subsequent donations to the city for an art gallery and museum
- Lord Iliffe
- presented Allesley Hall and grounds to the city in 1937, and donated £35,000 towards the rebuilding of Coventry Cathedral
- William Pisford
- co-founder of Ford's hospital
- Thomas Wheatley
- founder of Bablake school in 1560, and mayor of Coventry in 1556
- Sir Thomas White
- merchant and businessman, associated with many acts of benevolence including a gift of £1,400 in 1542 for the city to buy lands to be held in trust for charitable purposes. The income from these lands was shared among deserving freemen of the city. (Also mayor of London in 1553, and founder of St. John's College, Oxford)
- Sir William Wyley
- benefactor and twice mayor 1911–13, purchased and presented Cook Street gate to the city in 1913, and bequeathed his residence, the Charterhouse, to the city in 1940
Read more about this topic: History Of Coventry
Famous quotes containing the words benefactors and, benefactors and/or founders:
“Mankind divides itself into two classes,—benefactors and malefactors. The second class is vast, the first a handful.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Why should not our furniture be as simple as the Arab’s or the Indian’s? When I think of the benefactors of the race, whom we have apotheosized as messengers from heaven, bearers of divine gifts to man, I do not see in my mind any retinue at their heels, any carload of fashionable furniture.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“It was no wonder that her sons stood tall and straight. She was a rich mine of life, like the founders of early races.”
—Willa Cather (1873–1947)