George Dorrien
George Dorrien | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1769 |
| Died | 1835-02-10 |
| Occupation | Banker |
| Known for | Governor of the Bank of England (1818–1820) |
George Dorrien (1769 – 10 February 1835) held the position of Governor of the Bank of England between 1818 and 1820.
Family and early life
Born in 1769, George Dorrien was the fourth son of John and Ann Dorrien. His father, John Dorrien (–1784), was a London-based merchant banker who co-owned the banking firm Dorrien, Rucker and Carlton and also served as chairman of the East India Company. The Dorrien family originated as German Lutherans affiliated with the Lutheran congregation at Holy Trinity the Less in London.
George was married to Grace Ashurst (1773–1826), who was the daughter of Sir William Ashurst.
Career
In 1794, Dorrien became a member of the Bank of England's board of directors. He was active during the Panic of 1796–1797, a period when the Bank halted specie payments at the onset of the Restriction period.
From 1816 to 1818, he served as Deputy Governor of the Bank of England before taking over from Jeremiah Harman as Governor of the Bank of England from 1818 until 1820. His successor was Charles Pole. His term as governor coincided with the economic difficulties brought about by the Panic of 1819.
Death and memorials
Grace passed away on 29 November 1826, while George died on 10 February 1835. Both were laid to rest in their family vault at the Church of St Peter, Great Berkhamsted. A white marble monument in the church’s north transept commemorates nine members of the Dorrien family; this memorial was crafted by sculptor John Bacon the Younger. Additionally, George Dorrien’s heraldic achievement is depicted in a nearby stained-glass window created by James Powell and Sons.