Edwin Manton
Sir Edwin Alfred Grenville Manton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Earls Colne, Essex, England |
| Died | October 1, 2005 (aged 96) |
| Occupation(s) | Art enthusiast, insurance executive, philanthropist |
| Known for | Key contributor to American International Group (AIG); major patron of the arts and Tate Gallery |
Sir Edwin Alfred Grenville Manton (22 January 1909 – 1 October 2005) was an English art enthusiast and a pivotal contributor to the establishment of American International Group (AIG). Renowned for his collection of paintings by John Constable and his peers, he was a prominent patron supporting the arts, religious institutions, and healthcare sectors.
Honored with a knighthood in 1994 for his philanthropic efforts toward the Tate Gallery, Manton stood as its most generous donor following Sir Henry Tate, maintaining active involvement with the gallery well into his nineties.
Early life
Manton was born in Earls Colne, Essex, close to the birthplace of Constable. His family soon relocated to Westcliff-on-Sea, an environment that nurtured his enduring admiration for aquatic and atmospheric landscapes—an influence evident in his later acquisition of works by artist John Wonnacott. During the First World War, the family moved to Shaftesbury in Dorset, where he boarded at Shaftesbury Grammar School even after moving to London.
American International Group
In 1926, Manton turned down a scholarship offer from Cambridge to accept a position in Caledonian Insurance’s Paris office, facilitated by an uncle. By 1933, he had moved to New York to work as a casualty underwriter at American International Underwriter Group—later known as AIG—then a modest enterprise founded by Cornelius Vander Starr.
He wed Florence "Gretchen" Brewer from the United States, with whom he had a daughter named Diana. Returning to London in 1939, he sought military service but was declined due to health concerns.
Manton led American International Underwriters as president from 1942 until 1969 and served as chairman until his retirement in 1975. At the time of his passing, he held honorary director and senior advisory roles at AIG. Under his guidance, the company grew to employ over 50,000 people, securing his reputation as a key figure in the American insurance industry. His holdings in AIG contributed substantially to his wealth; he was ranked 83rd on the UK Sunday Times Rich List in 2003.
Art Collecting
Following World War II, Manton dedicated himself to acquiring British artworks, focusing especially on Constable. By the 1960s and 1970s, he had curated one of the most distinguished private collections despite rivalry from collectors such as Paul Mellon.
During the early 1980s, Manton engaged with leading Constable scholars like Leslie Parris at the Tate. He discovered that several pieces within his collection were created by Constable’s followers rather than by Constable himself—a revelation he accepted as part of his continuing commitment to art research.
Philanthropy
Manton’s friendship with Parris inspired him to contribute to Tate’s 1987 campaign aimed at acquiring Constable's Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows. Following this, he donated AIG shares that established the American Fund for the Tate Gallery with an initial endowment of $6.5 million in 1988.
Maintaining British citizenship until his death, Manton founded this fund to enhance Tate’s American art holdings, reflecting his connections to both Britain and America. By 2005, the fund had expanded to $30 million, facilitating purchases of significant works by artists including Robert Motherwell, Philip Guston, Donald Judd, David Smith, Louise Bourgeois, Ellsworth Kelly, Bruce Nauman, and Cildo Meireles. The fund’s design encouraged further American contributions, resulting in over $70 million in donations of art and funds.
In 1992 and again in 1997, Manton contributed nearly £12 million toward Tate Britain’s centenary redevelopment and other initiatives, including a promised bequest of Constable’s The Glebe Farm. These gifts transformed Tate Britain's exhibition of British art at Millbank by 2001. Collectively, Manton’s philanthropic efforts constitute the largest donation in Tate’s history, enriching both British and international collections.
Additionally, Manton was a devoted member of New York City’s Episcopal Church of the Ascension for many years. After his passing, the Manton Foundation funded a new pipe organ in memory of him and Lady Manton. Installed in 2011, this instrument—the Manton Memorial Organ—features 6,183 pipes and 95 stops and is notable as New York City’s first French-built pipe organ.