The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-18
TODAY I'M HISTORY
Birthday of Great phIIantbroo,at
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10.


Today IG the birthday OF George Pea
body To the general public Peabody
is an unfamiliar hgure. Tnis Is due. in
spen, gte"S ,rS mSas[Fe Uf 70 ihe lqet that he
wealth. which was mostly made In bank
ing IN England, was distributed, how
ever IN ms native land, not only in
one direction, but in many directions.
mostly OF an educational character.
George Peabody was born at Dan
vcrs, Mass. on February is, 1895. his
ancestors having settled In New Eng
iahd IN the carly part OF the seven
teenth century, lie was self educated.
and at a very early age began his bust
ness career in the mercantile establish
inent OF his uncle. In 1914 lie became
a partner Of Ehsna Riggs In the dry
goods business, and established houses
| phia, Peabody residing in Baltimore.
In 1887 he settled IN London and es-
iablished the banking house OF George
Peabody 6 Co. For negotiating the
1888, In London. when others had failed.
| by which lie sustained the credit or
commission oil S2oO, 1000. a vote OF thanks
was returned To him by the legislature
This was his first large gift.
lie next aSsisted IN nnanciering the
Grlnnell expedition in search OF Sir John
Franklin. founded the Peabody Insti-
tute and Library az Danvers. the Pea
oody Institute at Baltimore. to which
he contributed Si.OOo,OOO. and large be-
quests 10 various leading American in
stitutions of learning
His biggest benefcence abroad was
houses for the poor. TO which he con-
trIbuted more than 1900, 600. and at the
present time these buildings accommo-
date moro than 10000 persons
Mr.. PcabodyS great wealth was due
In part TO his patriotism and sagacity.
which induced him to invest largely in
United states government bonds dur
ing the civil! war For his large char
table contributions, principally toward
The education of the people OF the south.
ne n fn;,nG refeiyed S,@ yc,e Of thanks Of the
voted him gold medal
When the Queen OF England offered
him a baronetcy. or the grand cross
both, and in answer as to which gill
he would accept he said: IA letter from
The Queen OF England which l may car
ry across the. Atlantic and deposit as
a memorial of one of her most faith
tul sons The queen compiled with the
request, writing Mr. Peabody a grace
iul letter of acknowledgment of his
more than pTlnccly muniticcnce,"
MIR. Peabody died In London on No
vember I. 1859, and his obsequics were
celebrated In Westminster Abbey, 1t
gates. of the abbey were opened for the
burial OF private citizen OF another
country. As he desired to be buried by
the Side of his mother. his remains were
brought 10 this country by an English
man-oG- war, and they were laid In the
little cemetery at Danvcrs (now Pea
bodY). Mass.
The Peabody educational fund 10 he
devoted 10 education in the southern
states of the union, has already resulted
In the eXpendlng Of close TO $4,000, 900.
Other events OF note i'm history oc-
CURING on February IS are: The inaug-
uration OF Jefferson Davis. IN 1861, AS
president OF the Southern Confederacy;
The birth of Charles Lamb. the English
author and critic U175}. Of James Bid
lle, tho naval officer O1S3) and the
1eath of Martin Luther, the great re-
former U5l6).