Ian Handford: The world's greatest female philanthropist

This my most frequently requested talk during the last twenty years was  likely as Miss Angela Burdett-Coutts was the richest woman in Britain for most of her life, having inherited Coutts Bank.

Angelina (Angela) Georgina Burdett born in 1814 was a child of Sir Francis and Lady Sophia Burdett and the favourite grandchild of Thomas Coutts the founder of "Coutts" during the reign of King George 111. She was eight when losing her mother and then her father remarried Harriott Mellor, now her stepmother. By age fifteen both her father and Angela's stepmother had died and this disorientated teenager was an orphan. Fortunately, in appreciating  Angela would inherit their bank one day it's Trustees paid for a Governess to guide her until she reached 21. They chose well as Hannah Meredith and Angela became firm friends for life.

Eventually they set off to tour the globe so that Angela could learn of changing times and the many cultures and the  needs of countries. She was an intelligent girl and developed skills today we would see as being academic, including  being multi-lingual which included Latin.  By age 21 Angela was very bright, strong minded had a real personality. She was also potentially a good administrator which would be useful when owning the bank. 

Angela was 23 when Thomas's widow died and having learned her grandmother's will laid down extra conditions to Thomas's will, these still determining she could inherit. The most stringent new conditions were 1) She must not marry an alien (foreigner) and 2) The inheritance on her death must pass to a son and 3) The Coutts name was to be retained requiring her to become Miss Angelina Georgina Burdett-Coutts (by Royal diktat).

This by now confident strong woman accepted all conditions and also retained Hannah. Already aware that money and power brought influence and that “gold-diggers” would emerge at age 21 she made an extra-ordinary public statement saying - after inheriting I shall never marry and “I am going to use my life to give all the money away” - which in fact in time as a philanthropist she did until age 67.

Having inherited £millions it was soon being reported how much cash  Angela now had, as well as the Coutts property portfolio and her family inheritance from the Burdett's. Much later a further press report said Angela was currently earning upwards of £80,000 a year in interest alone which allows her to purchase or build any property, hold any investment or spend what she liked without touching any Bank asset. In this way she became a major female philanthropist ever seen. She would sponsor, gift or loan money (often charging interest) to anyone or any institution or business venture she wished  to help. With no solicitors or the bank involved this in time saw her door opened to especially orphans or those less fortunate than herself, while loans or cash wouild be provided to friends or those in need as you will shortly read. 

Angela in this was the worlds most successful female philanthropist of that era, giving to literally hundreds of causes in Britain and around the globe. From the the streets of London she helped young women after saying “who had lost their innocency” by providing a home or bath facilities while abroad in South Africa money was provided for nurses and surgeons and sometimes buildings and in Ireland responded to the thousands affected by the famine and homelessness crisis. 

Having befriended the famous Charles Dickens she helped him found the "Ragged School Union" before a new refuge "Urania Cottage in London" for prostitutes was opened in 1847. Meanwhile art students and shoe-shine boy's (so-called London Boot boys) were assisted and years later another press report estimated she had personally given away between £3 - 4 million by philanthropic gifting.

(To be continued)